A low pressure system developing over the mid Mississippi River Valley then moving northeast into the Lower Great Lakes brought a strong cold front through Upper Michigan from late on the 3rd into the morning of the 4th.  Moderate snow developed along the front with moderate lake effect snow and considerable blowing snow continuing into the 5th for the northwest wind snow belts near Lake Superior. Very cold wind chills of 25 to 40 below zero were also common across much of the area by the 5th. Many schools across Upper Michigan were closed on the 5th due to the combination of bitter cold wind chills and lake effect snow and blowing snow.

Winter Weather in ONTONAGON, MICHIGAN
From 03-JAN-15 21:00:00 to 05-JAN-15 16:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

There was a public report of an estimated six inches of snow at White Pine for the
22-hour period ending early evening on the 4th. Northwest winds gusting over 25 mph also caused some blowing of snow reducing visibility to one half mile or less at times.  Wind chills by early morning on the 5th fell as low as 35 below zero closing schools throughout the county.

Winter Weather in BARAGA, MICHIGAN
From 03-JAN-15 23:00:00 to 05-JAN-15 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The observer at Watton measured three inches of snow in 12 hours on the morning of the 4th.  Wind chill readings by the morning of the 5th fell to 30 below zero closing schools throughout the county.

Winter Weather in NORTHERN HOUGHTON, MICHIGAN
From 03-JAN-15 22:00:00 to 04-JAN-15 20:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall amounts from four to five inches were common throughout much of northern Houghton County during the period. Northwest winds gusting over 30 mph also caused considerable blowing of snow reducing visibility to one half mile or less at times.

Winter Weather in SOUTHERN HOUGHTON, MICHIGAN
From 04-JAN-15 08:00:00 to 05-JAN-15 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

There was a public report of an estimated four inches of snow in 12 hours at Nisula on the 4th.  Wind chills by the morning of the 5th fell as low as 30 below zero closing schools throughout the area.

Winter Weather in GOGEBIC, MICHIGAN
From 03-JAN-15 21:00:00 to 05-JAN-15 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

There were several public reports of three to four inches of snow between Ironwood and  Wakefield from the evening of the 3rd into late afternoon on the 4th.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in GOGEBIC, MICHIGAN
From 04-JAN-15 20:00:00 to 05-JAN-15 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Temperatures falling into the upper teens below zero combined with westerly winds of 10 to 15 mph to generate wind chills between 35 and 40 below zero.  The bitter cold wind chills closed schools throughout the county on the 5th.

Cold/Wind Chill in IRON, MICHIGAN
From 04-JAN-15 19:00:00 to 05-JAN-15 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Temperatures falling into the teens below zero combined with westerly winds of 10 to 15 mph to generate wind chills around 35 below zero by the morning of the 5th.  The bitter cold wind chills closed schools throughout the county on the 5th.

Cold/Wind Chill in DICKINSON, MICHIGAN
From 04-JAN-15 19:00:00 to 05-JAN-15 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Temperatures falling into the teens below zero combined with westerly winds of 10 to 15 mph to generate wind chills from 25 to 35 below zero by the morning of the 5th.  The bitter cold wind chills closed schools throughout the county on the 5th.

Cold/Wind Chill in MENOMINEE, MICHIGAN
From 04-JAN-15 19:00:00 to 05-JAN-15 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Temperatures falling into the teens below zero combined with westerly winds of 10 to 15 mph to generate wind chills from 25 to 30 below zero by the morning of the 5th.  The bitter cold wind chills closed schools throughout the county on the 5th.

Cold/Wind Chill in LUCE, MICHIGAN
From 05-JAN-15 03:00:00 to 05-JAN-15 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Temperatures falling to around 10 below zero combined with southwest winds of 15 to 20 mph to generate wind chills from 25 to 35 below zero on the morning of the 5th.  The bitter cold wind chills closed schools throughout the county on the 5th.

Cold/Wind Chill in NORTHERN SCHOOLCRAFT, MICHIGAN
From 05-JAN-15 03:00:00 to 05-JAN-15 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Temperatures falling to around 10 below zero combined with southwest winds of 15 to 20 mph to generate wind chills from 25 to 35 below zero on the morning of the 5th.  The bitter cold wind chills closed schools throughout the county on the 5th.

Cold/Wind Chill in SOUTHERN SCHOOLCRAFT, MICHIGAN
From 05-JAN-15 03:00:00 to 05-JAN-15 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Temperatures falling to around 10 below zero combined with southwest winds of 10 to 20 mph to generate wind chills from 25 to 30 below zero on the morning of the 5th.  The bitter cold wind chills closed schools throughout the county on the 5th.

Winter Weather in MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN
From 03-JAN-15 22:00:00 to 05-JAN-15 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Snowfall totals from late evening on the 3rd to early afternoon on the 4th included 5.5 inches just southwest of Harvey, 5.3 inches near Big Bay, 4.4 inches near Little Lake, 4.0 at Champion and 3.5 inches at K.I. Sawyer.  Wind chill readings by the morning of the 5th fell to 30 to 35 below zero closing schools throughout the county.

Winter Weather in DELTA, MICHIGAN
From 03-JAN-15 21:00:00 to 05-JAN-15 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

There was a public report of an estimated 4 to 5 inches of snow in Rock from late evening on the 3rd to early afternoon on the 4th.  Wind chill readings had dropped to 30 to 35 below zero by the morning of the 5th closing schools throughout the county.

Winter Weather in ALGER, MICHIGAN
From 04-JAN-15 00:00:00 to 05-JAN-15 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Storm total snowfall amounts during the period included 9.4 inches of snow ten miles south of Grand Marais, over six inches of snow in Eben Junction, 5.5 inches near Forest Lake and 5.0 inches in Munising. Northwest winds gusting as high as 40 mph at times resulted in considerable blowing and drifting of snow...especially for locations near Lake Superior.  Highway M-28 was closed from near Harvey to Munising from the evening of the 4th into the morning of the 5th due to the blowing and drifting of snow. Also, wind chill readings by the morning of the 5th dropped as low as 30 below zero. Schools throughout the county were closed on the 5th.