Michigan’s Five Biggest Snowstorms

The last time Michigan had a snowy Christmas morning was in 2017. This year, people in Michigan are hoping, once more, to get a snowy Christmas. And while the hopes are running high, Gander Newsroom, a Courier Newsroom publication, recently wrote about some of Michigan’s worst snowstorms. 

The Upper Peninsula Snowstorm, 2022

Only eight months ago Michigan was thrashed was a snowstorm that lasted two days. The snowstorm impacted Marquette and surrounding areas in the Upper Peninsula. The storm started on Feb 21, and a total of 37.1 inches of snowfall was recorded. Several roads had to be closed because of complete whiteouts and negative temperatures. Luckily for Michigan’s residents, there were no strong winds and that kept the damage to a minimum. 

The Great Blizzard, 1978

This storm is an anomaly on the list because it was not one but two storms at the same time. One coming from the Gulf of Mexico and the other from Canada. The two collided to form a slow-moving blizzard. In Muskegon, this snowstorm dropped 30 inches of snow, and averaged 10 inches elsewhere in the state, stated the article by the Courier Newsroom publication. This storm proved to be quite fatal as it took the lives of 20 people in Michigan. 

The Blizzard, 1967

The winter of 1967 was unusual because it was one of the warmest on record. In fact, the state also received its first thunderstorm in January. With temperatures in the high 50s, when this blizzard rolled in, it inevitably took Michiganders by surprise. The snowstorm caused Michigan University to halt classes for the first time in over 100 years. More than a dozen people pushing stalled cars and shoveling snow died because of heart attacks. The storm dumped 15 inches across 80 miles and impacted Mitten, Benton Harbor, Harbor Beach, and Williamston. 

Summer Squalls, 1923

Nothing is more unpredictable than snow in summer, but this is exactly what happened in the summer of 1923. On May 8, 1923, just when Michiganders were unrolling their summer clothes and preparing for boat trips on the beach, temperatures suddenly dropped. Within a night, much of the state was covered under an inch of snow and it kept coming the next day. By the time it stopped snowing, most of Michigan was covered in 6-9 inches of snow, The Gander Newsroom reported, a Courier Newsroom publication. Frigid temperatures continued for a few more days after the first snowfall. Lansing and Flint were impacted the most with a full foot of snow being dumped. This snowstorm, luckily, did not cause any property damage or pose a risk to people’s lives. It only gave an unsavory start to summer. 

White Hurricane, 1913

This snowstorm is perhaps the only one on this list with a truly intimidating name and rightly so because this was one big snowstorm. This is, without a doubt, the deadliest storm in Michigan’s history. The White Hurricane lasted for 4 days, blasting winds exceeding 90 mph. These winds were responsible for whiteout conditions and massive drifts, with waves reaching 30 ft. The storm sunk 12 ships, damaged 30, and five went missing. According to the National Weather Service, the damage caused by the storm would amount to $117 million today.