A powerful winter storm moved from Missouri to Southern Lower Michigan on the 16th, bringing several waves of precipitation.  The initial band of snow lifted northward into the region in the pre-dawn hours, brining 2 to 6 inches of snow to most of Northern Lower Michigan (generally south of M-68).  After a lull, very heavy precipitation arrived in the afternoon.  This fell as rain and freezing rain south of a line from Houghton Lake to Harrisville, and snow to the north.  Thunder was common in this portion of the event, with 1 to 2 inch per hour snow accumulations (locally higher), and a quarter to a half inch of ice accumulation in places like Gladwin and Tawas City.  Another lull arrived in the evening, before wraparound snow and lake effect snow kicked in during the night and continued into the next day.  Parts of Chippewa County saw the snow continue into the 18th.  Storm total accumulations were from 6 to 15 inches, generally south of M-28, and north of Houghton Lake and Harrisville.  The highest accumulations, greater than a foot, were in a narrow band from Frankfort to Gaylord to Rogers City.  Strong winds, especially during the afternoon of the 16th through the 17th, produced considerable blowing snow and drifts as high as 4 feet.  Many areas schools let out early on the 16th (a Thursday), in anticipation of the heavier round of snow expected that afternoon.  That would prove wise, as there were a number of vehicle accidents in the near-zero visibility that the thundersnow produced.  A number of schools remained closed into the 17th.  There were a number of power outages, especially where ice accumulations were highest, as the strong winds (gusts to 35 mph) brought down ice-covered tree limbs.  Some places went without power for several days.

Winter Storm in GRAND TRAVERSE, MICHIGAN
From 16-FEB-06 13:45:00 to 17-FEB-06 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Winter Storm in ANTRIM, MICHIGAN
From 16-FEB-06 14:15:00 to 17-FEB-06 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)

Winter Storm in GLADWIN, MICHIGAN
From 16-FEB-06 15:15:00 to 16-FEB-06 20:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Winter Storm in BENZIE, MICHIGAN
From 16-FEB-06 13:00:00 to 17-FEB-06 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in LEELANAU, MICHIGAN
From 16-FEB-06 13:00:00 to 17-FEB-06 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Winter Storm in MONTMORENCY, MICHIGAN
From 16-FEB-06 15:30:00 to 17-FEB-06 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in KALKASKA, MICHIGAN
From 16-FEB-06 14:15:00 to 17-FEB-06 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in CHEBOYGAN, MICHIGAN
From 16-FEB-06 15:00:00 to 17-FEB-06 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in MISSAUKEE, MICHIGAN
From 16-FEB-06 14:15:00 to 17-FEB-06 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in ROSCOMMON, MICHIGAN
From 16-FEB-06 15:00:00 to 16-FEB-06 20:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)

Winter Storm in ARENAC, MICHIGAN
From 16-FEB-06 15:45:00 to 16-FEB-06 20:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in MANISTEE, MICHIGAN
From 16-FEB-06 13:00:00 to 17-FEB-06 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Winter Storm in ALCONA, MICHIGAN
From 16-FEB-06 16:00:00 to 16-FEB-06 20:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in OSCODA, MICHIGAN
From 16-FEB-06 15:30:00 to 17-FEB-06 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Winter Storm in CRAWFORD, MICHIGAN
From 16-FEB-06 15:00:00 to 17-FEB-06 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Winter Storm in PRESQUE ISLE, MICHIGAN
From 16-FEB-06 15:45:00 to 17-FEB-06 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in OTSEGO, MICHIGAN
From 16-FEB-06 15:00:00 to 17-FEB-06 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Winter Storm in ALPENA, MICHIGAN
From 16-FEB-06 16:00:00 to 17-FEB-06 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Winter Storm in EMMET, MICHIGAN
From 16-FEB-06 14:30:00 to 17-FEB-06 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Winter Storm in CHARLEVOIX, MICHIGAN
From 16-FEB-06 14:15:00 to 17-FEB-06 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in IOSCO, MICHIGAN
From 16-FEB-06 16:00:00 to 16-FEB-06 20:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in CHIPPEWA, MICHIGAN
From 17-FEB-06 05:00:00 to 18-FEB-06 08:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in WEXFORD, MICHIGAN
From 16-FEB-06 13:45:00 to 17-FEB-06 14:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Winter Storm in OGEMAW, MICHIGAN
From 16-FEB-06 15:30:00 to 16-FEB-06 20:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC