West Michigan lights and NWS radar
- Date
- 8 Mar 1994
- Place
- Lakeshore of West Michigan, Ottawa, Muskegon and Allegan counties, with National Weather Service radar at Muskegon, United States
- Record
- Curated case
- Assessment
- Contested
- Evidence strength
What was reported
On the night of 8 March 1994 dozens of people along the Lake Michigan shore, including police officers, called 911 to report groups of red, green, blue and white lights moving erratically over the lake. The meteorologist on duty at the National Weather Service office in Muskegon reported radar returns he called a fast-moving phenomenon over the lake and passed the reports to the National UFO Reporting Center. Within two weeks the NWS dismissed the blips, noting the radar was built for weather, not aircraft. A flap of over 300 reports across 42 counties followed; explanations offered include military aircraft, stars and social contagion.
What officials concluded
Tentative explanation
Radar returns dismissed by the National Weather Service as not meaningful
Strongest ordinary reading
None established; aircraft, bright stars and radar clutter with a wave of contagious reports
Evidence profile
- Yes: Visual
- No: Infrared
- Yes: Radar
- No: Video
- No: Photo
- No: Film
- No: Audio
- No: Night vision
- No: Other sensor
- Yes: Civilian
- No: Military aircrew
- No: Military ground
- No: Airline crew
- Yes: Sensor operator
- Yes: Law enforcement
- No: Scientist
- No: Astronaut
- No: Intelligence official
- No: Other
- Yes: Light only
- No: Orb or sphere
- No: Disc
- No: Triangle
- No: Cylinder
- No: Cube
- No: Other shape
- No: Physiological
- No: Physical trace
- No: Electromagnetic
- No: Sound
- No: Silent
Outside sources
- Wikipedia: 1994 Michigan UFO eventen.wikipedia.org
On the map
43.17° N, 86.24° W, plotted at the centre of the region named in the record
Show on the map