Winter Weather in Michigan
Every winter weather event the National Weather Service has filed in Michigan, year by year, with the most significant episodes. Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
The most significant on the map
The most significant winter weather episodes in Michigan.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 2,465
- Deaths
- 41
- Injuries
- 85
- Damage
- $3.0 million
Every year
The most significant
Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Michigan, December 1 to 2, 2007A low pressure system developed over Colorado and tracked through the Central Plains and eventually over Southeast Lower Michigan. With temperatures in the low 20s, the precipitation on the evening of the 1st began as all snow.
- Flood and Lake-Effect Snow in Michigan, December 29 to 31, 2017An upper disturbance moving across the region generated moderate to heavy lake enhanced snow downwind of Lake Superior in a north to northwest wind flow from the 29th into the 31st.
- Lake-Effect Snow and Winter Weather in Michigan, November 24 to 27, 2014A low pressure system tracking from the Southern Plains into the Upper Great Lakes produced moderate to heavy lake effect snow over portions of west and central Upper Michigan from the 24th into the 27th.
- High Wind and Winter Weather in Michigan, December 15 to 16, 2021A powerful storm tracking through the Upper Great Lakes produced strong and damaging winds across much of west and central Upper Michigan on the 16th.
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Michigan, November 9 to 10, 2011A moisture-laden low pressure system moving from the mid-Mississippi Valley into the Great Lakes region dropped heavy snow over portions of west and north central Upper Michigan from the 9th into the 10th.
- Winter Weather in Michigan, January 22 to 23, 2020A band of moderate snow moved across portions of central and eastern Upper Michigan from the 22nd into the 23rd.
- Winter Weather in Michigan, January 27, 2023Poor visibility due to snow and blowing snow and slippery roads likely contributed to a fatal multi-vehicle accident in Garden Township on the afternoon of the 27th. A semi-truck driving westbound lost control and struck a Toyota SUV head-on killing both occupants of the Toyota.
- Winter Storm and Cold in Michigan, January 24 to 26, 2019A deep upper low pressure system from Hudson Bay into the Great Lakes brought a surge of Arctic air across the Upper Great Lakes which generated moderate to heavy lake effect snow and bitter cold temperatures across much of Upper Michigan from the 24th into 26th.
- Blizzard and Winter Weather in Michigan, February 6 to 7, 2026An arctic cold front brought widespread lake effect snow and strong winds to the north-central U.P. Winds were strongest near the lakeshore where blizzard conditions were observed at times.
- Winter Weather in Michigan, March 3, 2017Moderate lake effect snow fell near Grand Marais on the morning of the 3rd.
- Winter Weather in Michigan, December 23, 2021Moderate lake effect snow was reported in Marquette County during the afternoon and evening of the 23rd.
- Winter Storm and Lakeshore Flood in Michigan, December 1 to 3, 2018A low pressure system lifting northeast from the Central Plains brought moderate to heavy snow to much of Upper Michigan from the 1st into 2nd.
- Winter Weather in Michigan, February 19 to 20, 2018A band of moderate to heavy snow moved across western Upper Michigan on the 19th, and a mix of moderate snow and freezing rain impacted central Upper Michigan from the evening of the 19th into the morning of the 20th.
- Winter Weather in Michigan, December 17 to 18, 2022Moderate lake effect snow fell over portions of Marquette and Alger counties from the evening of the 17th into the morning of the 18th.
- Winter Weather in Michigan, January 9, 2017Slippery conditions from several inches of lake effect snow contributed to a fatal accident on Highway M-26 near Dollar Bay on the morning of the 9th.
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Michigan, February 7 to 8, 2017A low pressure system tracking from near Chicago across northern Lower Michigan dropped moderate to heavy lake enhanced snow across much of the northern tier of Upper Michigan from the 7th into the 8th.
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Michigan, January 30 to 31, 2013A strong cold front moving through Upper Michigan produced heavy snow over the east half of Upper Michigan on the 30th, and then moderate to heavy lake effect snow and blowing snow behind the front into the 31st for portions of west and north central Upper Michigan.
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Michigan, November 9 to 10, 2018Heavy lake enhanced snow bands developed off both Lake Superior and Lake Michigan and impacted portions of west and central Upper Mi from the 9th into the 10th. Strong winds also caused considerable drifting of snow over the Keweenaw Peninsula.
- Winter Weather in Michigan, April 4 to 5, 2007A very cold airmass blasted into the region, leading to intense lake effect snow squalls from Saginaw to Flint and east into Lapeer County. The squalls were narrow but intense bands that dumped up to 4 inches of snow in some areas with only trace amounts in other areas.
- Winter Weather in Michigan, December 5 to 6, 2018An upper disturbance and an associated surge of very cold air across Lake Superior resulted in moderate lake effect snow over the higher terrain of western Upper Michigan and northeast Upper Michigan from the 5th into the 6th.
- Winter Weather in Michigan, December 29, 2011A low pressure trough moving across the area dumped moderate snow near Copper Harbor on the 29th. One to three inches of snow elsewhere caused very slippery roads and contributed to a fatal accident in Marquette County.
- Winter Weather in Michigan, December 14, 2011A slushy mixture of rain and snow contributed to a fatal accident on US Highway 45 near Bruce Crossing at 11 am on the morning of the 14th.
- Winter Weather in Michigan, December 11, 2007A low pressure system with a plentiful supply of moisture moved from the Central Plains through the Great Lakes on Tuesday, the 11th. This system caused a combination of light snow and freezing rain over the area.
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Michigan, February 13 to 14, 2007A low pressure system tracked from Arkansas to the Upper Ohio Valley and spread heavy snow north into Michigan. This Valentine's snowstorm marked the season's first snowfall over 2 inches for much of the affected area.
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Michigan, February 25 to 26, 2007A winter storm system over Iowa weakened as it moved northeast into northern Illinois. Waves of moisture in advance of the storm moved across Southeast Michigan on Sunday, February the 25th and during the early morning hours of the 26th.
More
Sources
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.