If you've seen the predictions you know we're expecting a warmer than usual Winter but more precipitation which could mean a lot of snow.  So far we've seen some pretty incredible snow totals along the lakeshore and in the U.P.  The question is will we have an "event" storm this year?  I mean, one that completely changes the course of our lives like some notable storms of the past?

On grandpashorters.com, you'll find the list of the 5 biggest snowstorms since 1900.  Check these out...

1. The White Hurricane of 1913

Called the White Hurricane in its aftermath, it’s considered one of the worst snowstorms to hit the region in recorded history. This blizzard with hurricane force winds blew across Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas and into Ohio, New York and Ontario, Canada for four days. It left a path of devastation in its wake, toppling ships on the Great Lakes, killing 250 people. Two powerful low fronts, one from Alberta and one from Colorado, converged over the Great Lakes, picking up energy from the still warm lake water.

 

 

 

2. The Late May Snowstorm of 1923

Can it really snow in Michigan in May? Yes it can. An awful lot in fact. While this storm caused little damage and only dropped about a foot of snow in the hardest hit locations, it’s considered significant, because it caught everyone off guard.

Imagine, it’s a warm spring day, then suddenly the mercury plunges. That’s exactly what happened on May 8, 1923. Temperatures across Michigan fell from 62 degrees to just 34 between noon and six that evening as a strong cold front approached. An inch of snow fell that night. While that was unusual, Michigan was in for an even more rare occurrence.

The following day, a low-pressure system joined up with the cold front, leaving six to nine inches of snow over most of the area, despite the ground already warming up from spring. Areas near Lansing and Flint were buried in a foot of snow! Temperatures didn’t rise out of the 30s for two days.

3. The Blizzard of 1967

The days prior to January 26 and 27, 1967 were unseasonably warm with temperatures in the 50s and 60s in some parts of Michigan. Then suddenly winter temperatures returned and with them came several feet of snow. An eight-mile long traffic backup occurred between Grand Rapids and Jackson with drivers abandoning their cars and walking to a nearby farmhouse to spend the night. Kalamazoo took the brunt of the storm with 30 inches of snow falling. Eyewitnesses say the storm brought the state to standstill for two days. Dairy farmers had to dump milk that couldn’t be delivered and state troopers relied on the National Guard for transportation through the milk that couldn’t be delivered and state troopers relied on the National Guard for transportation through the deep snow to emergency calls

4. The Great Blizzard of 1978

According to The National Weather Service, The Blizzard of ‘78 was the worst winter storm to hit Michigan since record keeping began. Again falling on January 26 and 27, the lower peninsula was hit with 10 to 30 inches of snow depending on location.

Wind gusts were between 50 and 70 mph and wind chills were as cold as 30 below. The severe blizzard caused whiteouts and zero visibility for hours. Several inches of snow that were already on ground in many areas prior to the storm compounded the blowing snow. As the storm passed over Mt. Clemens, MI, the atmospheric pressure fell to the third lowest ever recorded in the United States outside of a tropical storm.

Much of lower Michigan was closed for days due to impassable roads with snow drifts high enough to bury houses in some places. About 20 people died in Michigan as a result of the storm, most from heart attacks suffered while trying to push cars from snow drifts and ditches.

5. The North American Blizzard of 1999

This is yet another storm that hit after a stretch of mild winter temperatures. Just after the New Year on January 2nd and 3rd of 1999, the Great Lakes Region was struck with blizzard conditions. West Michigan was hit hardest with up to 28 inches of snow falling along the Lake Michigan shoreline in South Haven.

Schools and businesses were closed for days in many communities. However, thanks to modern snow removal equipment and techniques, the state was able to get most major highways reopened within 24 hours of the storm. Airports didn’t fare as well. Detroit Metro left passengers stranded in planes on the runway for hours, and it was days before airports were running on time again at full capacity.

 

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