Michigan winter storms
Every recorded winter storm record since 1996 · 83 counties with a record
NOAA's Storm Events Database records 10,836 winter storm records in Michigan from 1996 through June 30, 2026, about 355 a year since 2000. The deadliest was the December 1, 2007 winter weather: 7 deaths across 7 records. Michigan ranks 4th of 51 states and territories by count and 16th of 50 per square mile.
Winter storms in Michigan, 1996 to 2026
Winter storm records per year (NOAA Storm Events); 2026 to June 30, 2026.
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $1 million
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- $1 billion or more, or 100 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- Records
- 10,8361996 to June 30, 2026
- A year since 2000
- 355average
- Deaths
- 52160 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $450Mas filed
- Busiest year
- 2008679 records
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026; deaths and damage as filed, damage in 2025 dollars. Search the record at NCEI.
Are winter storm records common in Michigan?
Michigan averages about 355 winter storm records a year since 2000, 4th of 51 states and territories by count. The busiest year on record was 2008 (679). Per 10,000 square miles of land, Michigan records 1914 winter storm records since 1996, 16th of 50 states and territories by that measure.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1996, per 10,000 square miles of land area (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer; places under 1,000 square miles not ranked). Damage colours: Storm Events damage, 2025 dollars.
Which counties in Michigan have the most winter storm records?
Per square mile, Keweenaw County leads Michigan: 273 days with a winter storm record since 1996, 505.5 per 1,000 square miles of land. By raw count, Houghton County has the most winter storm records (593 since 1996); large counties collect more records simply by covering more ground, so the ranking counts days with a record per unit of area (a storm filed for several forecast zones adds several records but one day).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, days with a record in the county since 1996 per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer); in brackets, the count of records.
When is winter storm season in Michigan?
49% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in December and January. The busiest month is January (2,782 records).
The values, month by month
Jan 2,782 · Feb 2,215 · Mar 1,418 · Apr 684 · May 27 · Jun 0 · Jul 0 · Aug 0 · Sep 0 · Oct 142 · Nov 1,049 · Dec 2,519 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began, since 1996.
What were the deadliest winter storm records in Michigan?
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-12-01 | Winter WeatherOakland County · forecast zone Oakland One storm episode: 7 records in 7 places; the totals are the episode's. A 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. Portions of the Tri-Cities and Thumb region received up to 7 inches of snow, with generally ... | 7 | 0 | – | |
| 2017-12-30 | Winter WeatherDickinson County · forecast zone Dickinson One storm episode: 2 records in 2 places; the totals are the episode's. An 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. | 3 | 4 | $54K | |
| 2014-11-24 | Winter WeatherMenominee County · forecast zone Menominee There was a public report via social media of 3 to 4 inches of snow at Carney in a 6-hour period. The snow-covered slippery roads also lead to a fatal accident on Highway US-41 near Daggett when a minivan lost control and skidded into the path of a semitrailer. Three passengers in the minivan were killed and the ... | 3 | 1 | $31K | |
| 2020-01-23 | Winter WeatherDickinson County · forecast zone Dickinson Observers from Norway to Iron Mountain measured between 4 and 5 inches of snow over an approximate 15-hour period on the 23rd. Deputies from the Dickinson County Sheriff's Department were dispatched to the scene of two-vehicle accident on Highway US-2 near Alfredson Road in Waucedah Township at 2:41 pm CST on the ... | 2 | 2 | $46K | |
| 2019-01-24 | Winter WeatherMarquette County · forecast zone Marquette Snowfall across the county ranged from two to locally five inches over an 18-hour period ending on the morning of the 25th. Northwest winds gusting to 25 to 30 mph on the afternoon of the 24th also caused reduced visibility at times in blowing snow. Troopers from the MSP Negaunee post responded to a two-vehicle crash ... | 2 | 2 | $12K | |
| 2011-11-09 | Winter WeatherDelta County · forecast zone Delta Two inches of wet slushy snow contributed to a fatal car crash near Rapid River at shortly before 430 pm on the afternoon of the 9th as reported by the Michigan State Police post in Gladstone. Two elderly women from Rapid River were pronounced dead at the scene when the car they were driving slid out of control and ... | 2 | 1 | $46K | |
| 2023-01-27 | Winter WeatherSchoolcraft County · forecast zone Southern Schoolcraft Poor 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 the husband and wife occupants of the Toyota, a 47-year-old male and ... | 2 | 1 | $48K | |
| 2021-12-16 | Winter WeatherDickinson County · forecast zone Dickinson Snow and poor visibility from blowing snow likely contributed to a fatal accident in Sagola Township on the afternoon of the 16th. Sheriff deputies were dispatched on 125 pm CST to Highway M-95 near Tobin Lane. A Jeep Liberty was southbound when the driver lost control, crossed the center lane and collided with a ... | 2 | 0 | $16K | |
| 2026-02-06 | Winter WeatherSchoolcraft County · forecast zone Southern Schoolcraft One storm episode: 3 records in 3 places; the totals are the episode's. An 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. Lake ice along the shorelines contributed to a long fetch for blowing snow, contributing to a multi-vehicle accident on M-28 in ... | 1 | 10 | – | |
| 2007-12-01 | Winter StormBranch County and Calhoun County · forecast zone Branch One storm episode: 2 records in 2 places; the totals are the episode's. Warm air pushed north across far southern Lower Michigan allowing temperatures above the surface to climb above freezing. However surface temperatures remained in the middle to upper 20s. Several rounds of precipitation moved in, first starting as snow and sleet then quickly changing to freezing rain with several ... | 1 | 8 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths direct and indirect, as filed by the National Weather Service, summed over each storm (one episode, or one named storm filed by several offices). Storm names from the titles of FEMA declarations that name the storm's counties.
The costliest winter storm records in Michigan
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-04-03 | Ice StormOakland County · forecast zone Oakland One storm episode: 4 records in 4 places; the totals are the episode's. | 1 | 2 | $258M | |
| 2023-02-22 | Ice StormWayne County · forecast zone Wayne One storm episode: 7 records in 7 places; the totals are the episode's. | 0 | 0 | $43M | |
| 2012-03-02 | Heavy SnowLeelanau County · forecast zone Leelanau One storm episode: 13 records in 13 places; the totals are the episode's. | 0 | 0 | $31M | |
| 1997-03-13 | Ice StormMacomb County · forecast zone Macomb One storm episode: 7 records in 7 places; the totals are the episode's. | 0 | 0 | $18M | |
| 2018-04-14 | Winter StormOakland County · forecast zone Oakland One storm episode: 15 records in 15 places; the totals are the episode's. | 0 | 0 | $16M | |
| 2019-02-05 | Ice StormIonia County · forecast zone Ionia One storm episode: 10 records in 10 places; the totals are the episode's. | 0 | 0 | $13M | |
| 2003-04-03 | Ice StormKent County · forecast zone Kent One storm episode: 17 records in 17 places; the totals are the episode's. | 0 | 0 | $7.9M | |
| 2013-12-21 | Ice StormBarry County · forecast zone Barry One storm episode: 6 records in 6 places; the totals are the episode's. | 0 | 0 | $7.6M |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: property and crop damage as estimated by the National Weather Service, in 2025 dollars.
Are winter storm records becoming more frequent in Michigan?
Michigan's count per decade against the whole country's, and its share. NOAA recorded every event type only from 1996, so earlier decades are not comparable; the share of the national total is the fairer comparison across decades.
| Decade | Michigan | United States | Michigan's share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-99 | 1,383 | 32,893 | 4.2% |
| 2000s | 3,957 | 88,805 | 4.5% |
| 2010s | 3,586 | 103,626 | 3.5% |
| 2020-26 | 1,910 | 62,015 | 3.1% |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.
The most recent winter storm records in Michigan
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-04 | Winter StormHoughton County · forecast zone Northern Houghton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-03 | Ice StormIron County · forecast zone Iron | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-03 | Ice StormGogebic County · forecast zone Gogebic | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-03 | Ice StormDickinson County · forecast zone Dickinson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-03 | Ice StormMarquette County · forecast zone Marquette | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-02 | Ice StormLuce County · forecast zone Luce | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-02 | Ice StormSchoolcraft County · forecast zone Southern Schoolcraft | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-02 | Ice StormSchoolcraft County · forecast zone Northern Schoolcraft | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-02 | Ice StormDelta County · forecast zone Delta | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-02 | Ice StormAlger County · forecast zone Alger | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-02 | Ice StormMenominee County · forecast zone Menominee | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-02 | Winter StormMarquette County · forecast zone Marquette | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026; the newest months are revised by NCEI as reports arrive. Search the record at NCEI.
Federal disaster declarations for winter storm records in Michigan
FEMA has declared 6 disasters in Michigan for winter storm, counting its incident type and declarations that name snow or winter storm or ice storm or blizzard in the title (FEMA files most storm disasters under Severe Storm); 2 were major disasters, the latest on July 22, 2025.
| Declared | Number | Title | Areas named |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-22 | DR-4880 | Severe Winter Storm | 14 |
| 2001-01-10 | EM-3160 | Snow | 39 |
| 1999-01-27 | EM-3137 | Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99 | 31 |
| 1978-01-27 | EM-3057 | Blizzards & Snowstorms | 83 |
| 1977-02-05 | EM-3030 | Snowstorms | 12 |
| 1972-04-05 | DR-330 | Severe Storm & Freezing | 9 |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), through October 2, 2026. OpenFEMA dataset page.
Next
- Keweenaw County: the county's whole recordThe Michigan county with the most winter storm records per square mile
- Winter storms across the United StatesEvery state ranked, by year and month
- Every natural hazard in MichiganTornadoes, floods, storms, heat and the federal declarations
- Severe thunderstorm wind in Michigan13,171 records
- Hail in Michigan6,036 records
- High wind and dust storms in Michigan1,523 records