Revisiting Michigan’s Worst Blizzards (1967, 1978, 2014, 2019)

2023 saw a well-below-average snowfall total that left many Michiganders questioning if we were actually living in Michigan and not some parallel universe. Grand Rapids, which averages 78 inches of snowfall from July 1st to June 30th, only got 38.4 inches in the entire 2023-2024 winter.

All that to say, we have had unseasonable winters of late, we're used to getting some pretty insane snowfall. But that doesn't come anywhere near the worst blizzards Michigan has ever had, like the ones we had in 1967, 1978, 2014, and 2019.

Blizzard of 1967

The Blizzard of 1967 is remembered for the insane amount of snowfall that was dumped on Michigan in a short 24-hour span. From the night of January 25th to the morning of January 27th, 1967, a whopping 18 inches fell on Grand Rapids, and Kalamazoo saw 30 inches. This storm caught many residents off guard considering on January 24th, it was 62 degrees before this massive storm.

Blizzard of 1978

Nine years after one powerful storm Michiganders were hit with one of the most powerful storms of all time. From January 25th to the 27th, Muskegon got 30 inches of snow and Grand Rapids saw 19 inches. The National Weather Service deemed this the "most extensive and very nearly the most severe blizzard in Michigan history". 20 people died, and 100,000 cars were abandoned on the highway. Snowdrifts were measured at 15 feet.

Storm of 2014

This snowstorm might not be one that many think of when they think of bad Michigan storms, but this was the first storm I truly remember because of how much time I got off from school. Across January 4, 5, and 6, West Michigan got over a foot of snow on top of the 6 inches that were already on the ground. The consistent snowfall made it difficult for plows to keep up. By the end, there were 18 inches on the ground.

Blizzard of 2019 (Polar Vortex)

This storm was one of the coldest on record, resulting in closures around the state. Being outside for more than even a few minutes risked frostbite, resulting in my family making many trips inside the house and back to the driveway just to get the shoveling done safely. Wind chills hit -20 and stayed around 0 for two days straight. The temperatures were so low, Governor Whitmer declared a state of emergency.

Those are only a few of the many intense storms Michigan has experienced over the years. You can learn more storms here.