Lake effect snow developed on January 6th and continued over portions of the area through January 8th.  The snow showers were triggered by an Alberta Clipper that tracked north of the area on Jan 6th.  West-northwesterly flow brought widespread snow showers and 2 to 6 inches of snow to most areas west of Route 131 on the 6th into the 7th.  Winds then became more northwest midday on the 7th with heavier snow showers bringing locally a foot of snow to interior Mason County and the southwest corner of Van Buren County.  Local three day snowfall totals exceeded 18 inches. Numerous accidents were reported along US-31 and US-131 on the 7th.

Winter Weather in KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN
From 06-JAN-11 07:00:00 to 09-JAN-11 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A CoCoRaHs observer six miles southwest of Kalamazoo measured 7.3 inches of snow from the 6th through 8 a.m. on the 9th.   Total snow accumulations countywide ranged from 5 to 8 inches.

Winter Weather in OTTAWA, MICHIGAN
From 06-JAN-11 07:00:00 to 09-JAN-11 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Significant lake effect snow occurred from the 6th through the 9th, with total snow accumulations reaching approximately 8 inches across western Ottawa county.  A CoCoRaHs observer 4 miles north northeast of Holland reported 8 inches of snow.

Winter Weather in KENT, MICHIGAN
From 06-JAN-11 09:00:00 to 09-JAN-11 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Several rounds of lake effect snow impacted Kent county from the 6th through the 9th, with total snow accumulations reaching around six inches across western Kent county.  A NWS employee reported 5.8 inches of snow five miles east northeast of Hudsonville in that time frame.

Winter Weather in NEWAYGO, MICHIGAN
From 06-JAN-11 09:00:00 to 09-JAN-11 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A long duration lake effect snow event occurred from the 6th through the 9th, with total snow accumulations reaching 6 to 8 inches across northwest Newaygo county.  A co-op observer near Fremont reported 5.7 inches of snow.

Winter Weather in LAKE, MICHIGAN
From 06-JAN-11 09:00:00 to 09-JAN-11 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A long duration lake effect snow event occurred from the 6th through the 9th, with total snow accumulations for that time frame ranging from around  a foot and a half across western Lake county to only around 4 to 6 inches over southeast Lake county.

Winter Weather in MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN
From 06-JAN-11 07:00:00 to 09-JAN-11 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Several rounds of lake effect snow occurred from the 6th through the 9th, with total snow accumulations for that time frame reaching 8 to 10 inches across far western Muskegon county.  8.2 inches of snow was reported at the Muskegon airport.

Winter Weather in BARRY, MICHIGAN
From 06-JAN-11 07:00:00 to 09-JAN-11 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A CoCoRaHs observer four miles south southwest of Hastings measured 7 inches of snow from the 6th through 6 p.m. on the 8th.  Several rounds of lake effect snow impacted Barry county from the 6th through the 9th, with total snow accumulations ranging from four to seven inches.

Lake-Effect Snow in VAN BUREN, MICHIGAN
From 07-JAN-11 13:00:00 to 08-JAN-11 14:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Six to twelve inches of snow fell across portions of southwestern Van Buren county.  The heaviest snow, with rates of one to two inches per hour, fell during the morning hours of the January 8th.  Three to six inches of snow fell in the northern and eastern parts of the county. The snow was light with an estimated snow-ratio of 20 to 1.  Some blowing and drifting occurred with occasional wind gusts exceeding 25 mph.

Lake-Effect Snow in MASON, MICHIGAN
From 07-JAN-11 12:00:00 to 08-JAN-11 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Six to twelve inches of snow fell along and west of Route 31. Snowfall rates of 2 inches per hour occurred at times during the event.  The snow was light with an estimated snow-ratio of 20 to 1.

Winter Weather in OCEANA, MICHIGAN
From 06-JAN-11 07:00:00 to 09-JAN-11 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A long duration lake effect snow event occurred from the 6th through the 9th, with total snow accumulations for that time frame reaching 10 to 12 inches across western Oceana county.  CoCoRaHs observers near Stony Lake and Walkerville both reported 10 to 12 inches of snow, with the heaviest snow occurring on the 7th into the early morning hours of the 8th.

Winter Weather in ALLEGAN, MICHIGAN
From 06-JAN-11 07:00:00 to 09-JAN-11 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Several rounds of lake effect snow impacted Allegan county from the 6th through the 9th, with total snow accumulations reaching around ten to twelve inches across far west southwest Allegan county.