Dangerous, Record-Breaking Heat to Continue in the Central and Eastern U.S.; Severe Thunderstorms in the Upper Midwest; Critical Fire Weather in the Four Corners

Dangerous, record-breaking heat will continue across most of the central and eastern U.S this week. Heat indices will exceed 100 degrees. Severe storms will be possible from the northern Plains into the Midwest and Great Lakes regions, as well as across the southern Appalachians Thursday, with the primary threat large to very large hail. Critical fire weather to continue in the Four Corners Region Read More >

Overview

A strong and very wet storm system arrived Friday night with rain overspreading the area. This rain was heavy for areas near and south of I-96, where 2-3 inches of rain fell. Daily rainfall records for January 11th were set at Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Lansing, and Kalamazoo. Colder air came in from the north on Saturday, changing precipitation over from rain, to a mixture of sleet and freezing rain.

Freezing rain and sleet continued into Saturday evening, before changing over to snowfall across the area, then ending overnight.

Ice amounts ranged from a trace toward Ludington to the northwest and I-94 to the south, and between 0.1 and 0.3 inches for the most part elsewhere. Snow amounts ranged from a couple of tenths across I-94, to as much as 3-4 inches toward Ludington and Baldwin.

Below is a map of the precipitation amounts, pictures of the flooding and ice from around the area, and radar loops during the event.

Total Rainfall Map Snowfall Map with Ice Amounts Overlaid

NWS Grand Rapids (NWS)

Photo Courtesy of Amy Hovey - Lowell, MI

Photo Courtesy of Victoria Lee - Delton, MI

Saranac, MI (NWS)

Flooding
Snow/Ice
Radar

Flooding

Photos


Photo Courtesy of Victoria Lee - Delton, MI	Wedgewood Park in Grandville, MI	Levels on Sycamore Creek near Holt, MI	Levels on the Grand River near Comstock Park, MI

Snow/Ice


Ice encasing trees in Saranac, MI	Icy sheath covering sidewalks in Grand Rapids, MI	Ice encasing a tire in Grand Rapids, MI	Ice completely coating on a truck in Grand Rapids, MI