Snowfall sets record in Detroit as area sees 10 inches in 2 days
Feb. 16—DETROIT — Snow fell all night in southeast Michigan, and the 7.2 inches of snow recorded Monday in Detroit beat a record set back in 1898 by more than two inches.
The National Weather Service says the previous snowfall record for a Feb. 15 came in 1898, when there were 5 inches of snow. The old record held for 123 years.
Over a roughly 30-hour period, spanning early Monday morning to early Tuesday, Metro Detroit saw 10 inches of snow, said Alex Manion, a National Weather Service meteorologist.
Monday: Next round of winter storm in SE Michigan could dump up to 10 inches
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The storm system dumped snow across a wide section of southeast Michigan, and a narrow band from Indiana, through Ohio into Michigan's Thumb area recorded the highest totals. The 24-hour snow total at 7 a.m. was measured at 8.3 inches at Detroit Metro Airport in Romulus. Likewise, Genesee County reported 8.3 inches and Ann Arbor reported 6.8 inches at 7:30 a.m.
Litchfield in Hillsdale County reports 8 inches, while Cass City in the Thumb area reports 7 inches. One of the highest totals recorded in Michigan was in Columbus, just outside Macomb County. It reported 13.1 inches, while just a little farther north, Peck, Michigan, reported 12 inches.
Michigan residents seemed resigned Tuesday in the aftermath of the storm to weathering a traditional dose of Michigan winter.
"I love the snow. I love the winter because I was born in December so it don't bother me. I like the four seasons ... it makes people stay in the house, all the foolishness not out here in the streets," said Randy McPherson, 64, of Detroit.
And for a Ferndale resident, it was another reason to stay indoors.
"I'm definitely not excited about the snow but it's fine," said Jason Muccioli, 33. "My wife and I just had our first child about a week ago so we're stuck inside anyways."
Inside is where people across the country were retreating as severe weather stretched from west to east and moved up from the south to northern regions.
At one point Monday, Manion said, there were active winter weather alerts stretching from Texas to the Central Plains to southern Michigan up to Maine.
"You don't normally see a weather map with warnings across one-third of the country," Manion said.
The National Weather Service Prediction Center augurs that the system of arctic high pressure over America will produce "numerous record cold maximum and minimum temperatures" Tuesday, mostly in the south-central U.S.
Daily lows will fall "35 to 45 degrees below normal" in some places.
The snowfall that just hit Michigan will head to the northeast U.S. before landing in Eastern Canada.
But the polar jet stream over the southern U.S. is "really stagnant," Manion said, and there will be more cold weather. That jet stream caused "anomalously cold air" to head south and park there.
The cold air should move out of the South by week's end, Manion said.
Road conditions
The Michigan Department of Transportation closed southbound Interstate 75 at Joslyn in Oakland County for about an hour around 9 a.m. due to multiple crashes. The MDOT camera showed several vehicles off the road.
Aside from minor crashes and a few fender-benders, Michigan State Police said most drivers took heed from Monday night's weather warnings and stayed home.
State police spokesman Lt. Michael Shaw urged those who decide to go out to keep their speeds down while driving and maintain safe distances from other drivers.
"Take your time no matter how many wheels-drive you have," Shaw urged early Tuesday. "Ice is ice."
Shaw said many motorists are waiting until they see pavement before they venture out but he cautioned them to drive with the weather conditions in mind.
"Everything is blowing over and then freezing," said Shaw, adding that the blistering cold temperatures are making salt less effective.
Shaw said first responders and emergency crews are seeing more trouble in neighborhoods.
"I pushed out five cars myself driving down Woodward in the city," said Shaw. "It's going to take some time (to dig out from the snow).
The Michigan Department of Transportation's MiDrive Map shows few incidents on Metro Detroit freeways.
Forecast
With the heaviest of the snow past and the winter storm warning expired, what lingers will be cold temperatures.
Tuesday and Wednesday are forecast to reach only 16 and 20 degrees, respectively. Tuesday night into Wednesday, temperatures will fall to the negative single digits, Manion said.
The next chance for snow? Thursday, when accumulation is expected, according to the weather service.
Power outages
While Texas saw massive power outages due to winter weather, Michigan has fared better.
DTE Energy, energy provider for 2.2 million homes and businesses in southeast Michigan, reports only 253 outages Tuesday morning.
Consumers Energy, which provides energy to 6.6 million outstate customers, reports only 5 outages.
Cancellations — Many Metro Detroit area schools are closed for the day. Find a list here. — In-person classes have been canceled at Wayne State University, as well as at Oakland and Eastern Michigan universities. Online work continues, Wayne State and Oakland officials tweeted. But at EMU as well as the University of Toledo, all activities and classes are canceled. — Third Judicial Circuit Court in Wayne County announced Tuesday: "Due to the weather conditions, the Court will only handle remote matters today. All in-person matters will be rescheduled. Staff who are scheduled to work onsite must contact their supervisor for assignments." — At 36th District Court in Detroit :"In-person matters for February 16, 2021 have been adjourned due to today's winter storm. All virtual hearings will proceed as scheduled. For further updates and information, please visit the Court's website at 36thDistrictcourt.org.
