Convection developed along and north of a warm front in the vicinity of the M-32/M-68 corridors on the evening of the 29th. After an initial round of thunderstorms and gravity-wave-induced gusty winds took place on the evening of the 28th, the boundary stalled over the region.
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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.
The episode as NWS APX wrote it up.
Convection developed along and north of a warm front in the vicinity of the M-32/M-68 corridors on the evening of the 29th. After an initial round of thunderstorms and gravity-wave-induced gusty winds took place on the evening of the 28th, the boundary stalled over the region. Sustained cold, easterly, low-level flow kept surface temperatures largely at or below freezing near and north of the M-72 across northeast Lower Michigan, as an unusually moist air mass overran the boundary, resulting in nearly 60hrs of freezing drizzle/rain. 3-day liquid/liquid-equivalent rainfall totals in excess of 2-4 inches across much of the northern Lower Peninsula translated to radial ice accumulations in sub-freezing locations of 1/2 to nearly 1 inch by Sunday. This led to devastation of 3 million acres of forest and subsequent home/property damage due to trees collapsing under the weight of the ice. Dozens of Michigan state parks and campgrounds were damaged, many to the point of temporary closures for safety and cleanup. Many maple syrup farms in the region suffered partial or total destruction of more than half their maple trees, as well as to syrup-making equipment. Additionally, extensive damage was done to the power and communications infrastructure of northern Michigan: multiple TV and FM radio broadcast towers were toppled under the weight of the ice; almost the entire power grid of northern Michigan was crippled, resulting in unprecedented near-complete outages across multiple counties in northeast Lower Michigan, with thousands of line workers coming in from across the nation and internationally from Canada to assist with recovery and repair in damage that has been likened to a Category 5 hurricane, but with bitterly cold temperatures. Over 120,000 people were without power during the peak of the storm. Power did not return for some areas until late in April, nearly 3 weeks after the ice storm had departed. Emergency services, including multiple hospitals, dispatch centers, fire departments, and the National Weather Service office 9miles SSW of Gaylord, MI, were on backup generator power for several days following the ice storm, as first responders and other emergency services personnel worked around the clock in hazardous conditions, sometimes staying at work as shelter-in-place orders were issued for multiple counties due to the danger of falling trees and powerlines along thousands of miles of blocked roads and trails. 12 counties in northern Michigan were put under a state of emergency by the Michigan governor; a federal disaster declaration came several weeks later. The National Guard was deployed to assist with cleanup, recovery, and restoration as miles of primary and secondary roads were blocked for multiple days; several off-road trails and state parks were closed for weeks due to significant tree damage and danger from parts of trees still hanging in the canopy. The Mackinac Bridge closed several times, some for long durations, due to falling ice concerns, further hampering clean-up and recovery efforts as gas shortages spread from northeast Lower Michigan into the eastern UP. Initial estimates of damage and restoration costs related to the ice storm approached $200 million and are likely higher; economic impacts from power outages and gas shortages notwithstanding. Recovery from this once-in-a-generation ice storm in northern Michigan will continue for years to come.
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 Gaylord, MI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 28, 1:54 PM EST, 4 hours 6 minutes earlier.
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</html>The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
15 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Up to 93% of electrical customers across all power companies were out of power at the peak of the ice storm. Major roads, including US-23 between Cheboygan and Presque Isle, were closed at times due to downed powerlines and trees. Total ice accumulations well over 1/2 inch.
Significant icing across the county, resulting in numerous downed trees and powerlines, as well as gas shortages related to power outages at distribution centers in ice storm affected areas, and frequent and prolonged closures of the Mackinac Bridge due to falling ice concerns. Mackinac Bridge employees reported unprecedented amounts of ice buildup on the Bridge cables and towers following the ice storm, which took several days to finally clear off.
KPLN, Pellston Regional Airport, ASOS reported 1/4 inch of ice accumulation by 2200 LST on the 28th. Closer to Little Traverse Bay, the cooperative observer at North Central Michigan College in Petoskey reported 1/4 inch of radial ice by the morning observation for the 29th; maximum radial ice accumulation at this cooperative observing station was 0.86inch. Other areas of the county received upwards of 3/4 inch of radial ice accumulation, with significant tree and infrastructure damage, including multiple TV and FM radio broadcast towers being toppled due to the weight of the ice.
Significant icing of amounts greater than a quarter inch (radial) resulted in power outages and tree damage on the island; residents were able to ice skate on the streets, though online sales from year-round businesses on the island were impacted by the power outages. Many roads and trails were closed due to tree damage. The National Guard was deployed to Mackinac Island to help with cleanup.
Significant icing around or greater than 1/4 inch (radial) across the county, resulting in numerous downed trees and powerlines, as well as gas shortages related to power outages at distribution centers in ice storm affected areas. Warming shelters were opened in Engadine.
Significant ice damage to parts of Beaver Island, resulting in the National Guard and Michigan Department of Natural Resources being deployed to Beaver Island for cleanup and restoration efforts.
Widespread radial ice reports of one-half to as much as three-quarters of an inch of ice across parts of the county, with highest amounts near Elmira and Thumb Lake in eastern Charlevoix county, though significant tree and power/communication infrastructure damage was reported across the county. While many areas received ice, including along the coast of Little Traverse Bay north of Charlevoix, lower elevation areas did not receive nearly as much ice or damage from the ice storm.
Trained spotter measured upwards of three-quarters of an inch of radial ice accretion at a home right on the Lake Huron coast. Spotter also reported extensive damage to trees and power/communications infrastructure throughout the county, with nearly complete business closures, largely due to significant and widespread power outages. The primary local electric cooperative serving Presque Isle county reported their entire system had been knocked offline for the first time in history.
In excess of one-half inch of radial ice accumulation was measured near Lachine. Widespread ice damage countywide, to trees and power/communications infrastructure, with nearly 100 percent of Alpena county without power at the peak of the storm. Alpena Power Company lost all power after the substation serving their grid went down for close to 2 days. The ASOS at the Alpena County Regional Airport, due to power outages, was unable to report critical weather/historical weather information for almost 6 days, between March 29th and April 4th. Some farmers ran generators part time between their homes and their barns to keep livestock safe. An Alpena Public Schools agriscience teacher estimated up to 25 percent of students' greenhouse hanging flower baskets were damaged by cold exposure due to lack of power and heat.
By 8pm EDT on the 29th, enough ice had accreted that Montmorency County emergency management issued a shelter in place notice due to danger posed by falling trees. Multiple shelters were set up across the county, with local businesses stepping up to help their communities while power companies worked tirelessly to rebuild much of the power and communication infrastructure in the county, destroyed due to the weight of ice and falling trees. Over 90% of people in Montmorency county were without power at the peak of the event. Johannesburg-Lewiston School District was closed for 2 weeks due to the ice storm; returning students remained out of power at home for longer. Significant tree damage noted across the county, including destruction of maple trees and equipment used in the production of maple syrup.
Widespread radial ice reports of one-half to as much as three-quarters of an inch of ice across the county, with highest amounts in the Gaylord and Elmira areas. Significant damage to trees and property, including homes. Extensive damage to power and communication infrastructure, with power outages lasting multiple weeks, into late April. NWS Gaylord employees, unable to make it home due to trees and powerlines blocking roads, slept over at the office for multiple days; the office was on generator power from Saturday through the following Thursday.
Significant icing across the county, particularly northwestern Oscoda county, resulting in widespread tree and power/communication infrastructure damage. Multiple warming shelters opened. Amateur radio/volunteer fire in the Mio area reported 5/8 inch of ice.
Widespread power outages and trees down due to significant icing, especially across northern Crawford county. The hospital in Grayling was on generator power. Crawford County issued a request for people to stay home and off the roads due to the ice storm. Thousands of line workers were housed at Camp Grayling during the ice storm in support of clean-up and recovery efforts.
Areas of significant tree and infrastructure damage in Antrim county were largely confined to the higher elevations, particularly near the Lakes of the North community in eastern Antrim county, though additional damage was sustained near Atwood in western Antrim County. Estimates of 1/4 to 1/2 inch or more of radial ice accumulation, with highest amounts in the Lakes of the North area.
Significant icing across the county, particularly north and west of Harrisville, resulting in numerous downed trees and powerlines, as well as gas shortages. Radial ice measurements around 5/8 inch in Curran in eastern Alcona county, according to amateur radio operators/volunteer fire.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Michigan in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Michigan, March 2025
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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1272642, 1272645, 1272646, 1272647, 1272654, 1272639, 1272641, 1272653, 1272637, 1272648, 1272651, 1272649, 1272643, 1272638, 1272635.