Michigan, 2025Extreme Cold and Cold in Michigan, January 18 to 23, 2025
January 18 to 23, 2025 · NWS MQT · 20 events in 15 counties and zones
An arctic air mass enveloping the Upper Great Lakes impacted Upper Michigan with several days of bitter cold temperatures and wind chills along with prolonged moderate snow over the west to northwest wind snow belts.
Every event with a place to put it; 20 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
Open the live radar over this ground
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 20
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
An arctic air mass enveloping the Upper Great Lakes impacted Upper Michigan with several days of bitter cold temperatures and wind chills along with prolonged moderate snow over the west to northwest wind snow belts.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Marquette, MI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 17, 5:30 PM EST, 13 hours 30 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jan 17, 5:30 PM EST, 13 hours 30 minutes before
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</html>Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 17, 3:48 PM EST, 15 hours 12 minutes before
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</html>Event by event
14 cold/wind chill, 5 winter weather, 1 extreme cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.
Winter Weather, Northern Houghton
- When
- January 18, 7:00 AM EST to January 23, 7:00 AM EST
- Where
- Northern Houghton forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 46.992, -88.652 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The snow spotter in Twin Lakes measured a five-day lake effect snow total of 31,9 inches while the observer in Painesdale measured a five-day total of 27.4 inches.
Winter Weather, Ontonagon
- When
- January 18, 8:00 AM EST to January 23, 8:00 AM EST
- Where
- Ontonagon forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 46.778, -89.305 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The observer 6 miles north of Greenland measured a five-day total of 22.8 inches of lake effect snow.
Cold/Wind Chill, Ontonagon
- When
- January 18, 9:00 PM EST to January 22, 1:00 AM EST
- Where
- Ontonagon forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 46.778, -89.305 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Wind chill temperatures dipped into the 25 below to 40 below zero range at times from the 19th into the 21st. Most schools were closed throughout Ontonagon County on the 20th and 21st due to the bitter cold.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Gogebic
- When
- January 18, 9:00 PM CST to January 22, 1:00 AM CST
- Where
- Gogebic forecast zone
- Reported by
- AWOS
- Coordinates
- 46.496, -89.796 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Wind chill temperatures dipped as cold as 35 below to 50 below zero at times from the 19th into the 21st. Schools were closed throughout the county on the 20th and 21st due to bitter cold temperatures and wind chills.
Cold/Wind Chill, Iron
- When
- January 18, 9:00 PM CST to January 22, 1:00 AM CST
- Where
- Iron forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 46.209, -88.530 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Wind chill temperatures dipped into the 25 below to 40 below zero range at times from the 19th into the 21st. Most schools were closed throughout Iron County on the 20th and 21st due to the bitter cold.
Winter Weather, Alger
- When
- January 19, 1:30 PM EST to 5:45 PM EST
- Where
- Alger forecast zone
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 46.451, -86.548 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Michigan State Police closed Highway M-28 from Kawbawgam Road in Harvey to West Shore Drive in Munising due to whiteout conditions in lake effect snow and blowing snow. The road was closed for more than four hours and then reopened just before 6 pm.
Cold/Wind Chill, Northern Houghton
- When
- January 19, 9:00 PM EST to January 22, 1:00 AM EST
- Where
- Northern Houghton forecast zone
- Reported by
- ASOS
- Coordinates
- 46.992, -88.652 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Bitter cold wind chills in the 25 below to nearly 40 below zero range were reported throughout much of the period. Schools were closed throughout Houghton County on the 20th and 21st due to the bitter cold.
Cold/Wind Chill, Southern Houghton
- When
- January 19, 9:00 PM EST to January 22, 1:00 AM EST
- Where
- Southern Houghton forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 46.992, -88.652 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Bitter cold wind chills in the 25 below to nearly 40 below zero range were observed throughout much of the period. Schools were closed throughout Houghton County on the 20th and 21st due to the bitter cold.
Cold/Wind Chill, Keweenaw
- When
- January 19, 9:00 PM EST to January 22, 1:00 AM EST
- Where
- Keweenaw forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 47.283, -88.212 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Bitter cold wind chills in the 25 below to 30 below zero range were reported throughout much of the period. Houghton-Keweenaw County Schools were closed on the 20th and 21st due to the bitter cold.
Cold/Wind Chill, Baraga
- When
- January 19, 9:00 PM EST to January 22, 1:00 AM EST
- Where
- Baraga forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 46.700, -88.352 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Bitter cold wind chills in the 25 below to 35 below zero range were observed throughout much of the period. Schools were closed throughout Baraga County on the 20th and 21st due to the bitter cold.
Cold/Wind Chill, Marquette
- When
- January 19, 9:00 PM EST to January 22, 1:00 AM EST
- Where
- Marquette forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 46.663, -87.573 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Bitter cold wind chills in the 25 below to 40 below zero range were observed throughout much of the period. Schools were closed throughout Marquette County on the 20th and 21st due to the bitter cold.
Cold/Wind Chill, Delta
- When
- January 19, 9:00 PM EST to January 22, 1:00 AM EST
- Where
- Delta forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 45.792, -86.871 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Bitter cold wind chills in the 25 below to 35 below zero range were observed throughout much of the period. Schools were closed throughout Delta County on the 20th and 21st due to the bitter cold.
Cold/Wind Chill, Alger
- When
- January 19, 9:00 PM EST to January 22, 1:00 AM EST
- Where
- Alger forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 46.451, -86.548 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Bitter cold wind chills in the 25 below to 30 below zero range were observed throughout much of the period. Schools were closed throughout Alger County on the 20th and 21st due to the bitter cold.
Cold/Wind Chill, Northern Schoolcraft
- When
- January 19, 9:00 PM EST to January 22, 1:00 AM EST
- Where
- Northern Schoolcraft forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 46.043, -86.177 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Bitter cold wind chills in the 25 below to 30 below zero range were observed throughout much of the period. Schools were closed throughout Schoolcraft County on the 20th and 21st due to the bitter cold.
Cold/Wind Chill, Southern Schoolcraft
- When
- January 19, 9:00 PM EST to January 22, 1:00 AM EST
- Where
- Southern Schoolcraft forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 46.043, -86.177 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Bitter cold wind chills in the 25 below to 35 below zero range were observed throughout much of the period. Schools were closed throughout Schoolcraft County on the 20th and 21st due to the bitter cold.
Cold/Wind Chill, Luce
- When
- January 19, 9:00 PM EST to January 22, 1:00 AM EST
- Where
- Luce forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 46.368, -85.509 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Bitter cold wind chills in the 25 below to nearly 35 below zero range were observed throughout much of the period. Tahquamenon Schools were closed on the 20th and 21st due to the bitter cold.
Cold/Wind Chill, Dickinson
- When
- January 19, 9:00 PM CST to January 22, 1:00 AM CST
- Where
- Dickinson forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 46.009, -87.870 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Bitter cold wind chills in the 25 below to nearly 40 below zero range were observed throughout much of the period. Schools were closed throughout Dickinson County on the 20th and 21st due to the bitter cold.
Cold/Wind Chill, Menominee
- When
- January 19, 9:00 PM CST to January 22, 1:00 AM CST
- Where
- Menominee forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 45.525, -87.510 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Bitter cold wind chills in the 25 below to 30 below zero range were observed throughout much of the period. Schools were closed throughout Menominee County on the 20th and 21st due to the bitter cold.
Winter Weather, Gogebic
- When
- January 22, 7:00 AM CST to January 23, 7:00 AM CST
- Where
- Gogebic forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 46.496, -89.796 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The observer in Ironwood measured seven inches of snow over 24 hours.
Winter Weather, Luce
- When
- January 22, 8:00 AM EST to January 23, 8:00 AM EST
- Where
- Luce forecast zone
- Reported by
- CoCoRaHS
- Coordinates
- 46.368, -85.509 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The station 7 miles north of McMillan measured 11 inches of lake effect snow in 24 hours.
- Winter Weather
- Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
- Cold/Wind Chill
- Cold or wind chill below warning criteria that caused deaths, injuries or damage.
- Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
- Temperatures or wind chills at or below the local warning criteria, or cold that caused deaths.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Marine Strong Wind in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, January 18, 20252 deaths · 1 event
- Winter Weather in Utah, January 18, 20251 injured · $100,000 · 1 event
- Cold in North Dakota, January 18 to 21, 202536 events
- Extreme Cold in South Dakota, January 18 to 21, 202526 events
- Extreme Cold in Minnesota, January 18 to 21, 202515 events
- Damaging Winds and Heavy Rain in Florida, January 18 to 19, 202556 kt wind · 12 events
- Extreme Cold in Minnesota, January 18 to 21, 20258 events
- Winter Weather in Texas, January 18 to 19, 20254 events
- Dense Fog in New Jersey, January 18 to 19, 20253 events
- High Wind in New Mexico, January 18, 202557 kt wind · 3 events
- Dense Fog in California, January 18, 20252 events
- Flooding in Puerto Rico, January 18, 2025$2,000 · 2 events
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1229281, 1229282, 1229107, 1229106, 1229108, 1229280, 1229268, 1229269, 1229270, 1229271, 1229273, 1229275, 1229276, 1229277, 1229278, 1229279, 1229272, 1229274, 1229283, 1229287.