The wind was howling across the Great Lakes last night. A cold front blasted through bringing wind gusts up to 75 mph (hurricane force) and a band of snow, which was heavy in places for a relatively brief time. We didn’t get much snowfall, but there was a considerable amount of blowing and drifting. There were even a few flashes of lightning with the line of snow squalls near Sheboygan WI.

Gusts of wind Friday night: Milwaukee (Timmerman Airport) 75 mph Butler WI 75 mph, West Bend WI 72 mph, Jackson MI 61 mph, Muskegon Beach 57 mph S. Haven Beach 57 mph, Holland Airport 56 mph, Chicago Water Intake 56 mph, Benton Harbor 55 mph,

There was a Blizzard Warning for Alger and N. Schoolcraft Counties (in red on the map)

The Winter Weather Advisory continues north – for NW Lower Michigan and E. Upper Michigan into this Sat. AM. A Blizzard Warning (in red on the map) was issued for Alger and N. Schoolcraft Counties in the U.P. This is more for strong wind than for snow. They’re expecting 1-4″ of snow…not a lot of snow by U.P. standards. However, winds could gust to 55 mph, which will cause considerable blowing and drifting snow. Winds chills will drop to -10 to -15.

Grand Rapids NWS graphic on the storm
Strong winds will cause blowing and drifting snow and possibly isolated power outages this evening and tonight.
Here’s the Gaylord NWS graphic on the snow for NW Lower and E Upper Michigan
Wind Advisory for West Michigan

The Wind Advisory covers all counties. It’ll be in effect from 1 pm today (Fri.) until 10 am Saturday. This is for gusts to 40-50 mph – especially at the Lake Michigan shoreline. Fortunately, we have some ice at the shore which should greatly reduce the chance of significant erosion. Lake levels are down a foot and a half in the last two years, so that reduces the chance of lakeshore flooding when we get a wind event like this. There could be isolated power outages and watch for drifting snow and reduced visibilities.

Weather Prediction Center graphic on the wind and snow. Blizzard Warnings for E. North Dakota and NW Minnesota – more for wind than for heavy snow amounts.

So far, February is running 1.7 degrees colder than average in Grand Rapids. January was 4.6 degrees cooler than average – so 2022 is starting off on the cold side. The overall cooler-than-average pattern should continue through much of the rest of February.

SEASON SNOWFALL – as of early Saturday AM: Grand Rapids – 0.6″ new snow, 61.0″ for the season (1.6″ below average-to-date). Muskegon – 0.9″ new snow, 44.5″ for the season (27.2″ below average-to-date). Lansing – 4.3″ new snow, 46.8″ season-to-date (8.5″ above average-to-date), Flint – 3.8″ new snow, 47.1″ for the season-to-date (8.8″ above season average-to-date). Detroit – 6.3″ new snow, 37.5″ for the season-to-date (4.8″ above average-to-date. S. Ste. Marie 108.8″ (+16.9″ season-to-date). Marquette 128″ for the season ) 5.3″ below season to date). Kalamazoo thru 2/17: 52.4″ for the season (6.7″ below average).

ALSO: Hurricanes have been blasting the island of Madagascar. Strong winds hit NW Europe (gust to 122 mph!). Storm system produced 5.65″ of mostly rain at Scott City MO, 12″ snow at Manito IL and gusts to 78 mph at Wears Valley TN. Video of roof peeling off building – extremely strong winds in NW Europe.