2018-19 Michigan Winter Cyclone Season

The 2018-19 Michigan Winter Cyclone Season is a future tropical cyclone event. It began on November 1, 2018 and will end on April 1, 2019. The storms in this basin tend to be weaker than typical tropical cyclones in a season, mainly due to overall higher wind shear.

Winter Weather Outlook
Areas of Potential Development:

A small, concentrated area of thunderstorms has developed along the western coast of Lake Michigan, development is not expected because the system will move inland soon. Heavy rains are expected over Wisconsin for the next day or two.

Development in 48 hours - 0%

Development in 5 days - 0%

Seasonal Summary
The Accumulated Cyclone Energy index for the 2018-19 Michigan Winter Cyclone Season, as of September 1, is 5.2725 units.

Severe Winter Cyclone Alina
In early to mid August, the remnants of Hurricane Flynn, all the way from the Mediterranean, entered the basin. The remnants stalled over Lake Superior for many days, due to a dominating high, and the remnants eventually developed into Winter Low 01M, on August 26. Twelve hours later, it intensified into Winter Storm Alina. Alina gradually strengthened in a low-shear environment, and it reached hurricane-equivalent status on August 28. The storm rapidly intensified as waters became warmer, and it peaked on August 30, as a minimal major hurricane on the SSHWS. Alina then made landfall in the Shesheeb Bay Provincial Nature Reserve at peak strength. Alina weakened as it continued inland, making a second landfall near Red Rock, Ontario as a Category 1 tropical cyclone. Alina curved eastward and dissipated on August 31.

Storm Names
The following list of names is being used for named storms that form in the great lakes during the 2018-19 season. Retired names, if any, will be announced by the VileMaster Hurricane Organization in the summer of 2019. The names not retired from this list will be used again in the 2022-23 season.