Discover the Worst Ice Storm That Shut Down Michigan

Michigan rarely sees ice storms, mainly due to its position in the far northern part of the United States. Cold temperatures in the winter more often dump snow on Michigan cities from lower Michigan to the Upper Peninsula. However, when temperature and storm conditions mesh together in a certain way, the occasional fierce ice storm can impact parts of the state. Southern Michigan has been the most likely area of the state to see long-term effects of severe ice storms. Discover the worst ice storm to hit Michigan, which shut down life in several cities as people knew it.

The Worst Ice Storm in Michigan History

Michiganders of a certain age remember the terrible ice storm that besieged the state in March 1976. By the end of February 1976, warming temperatures gave people a false sense of security. However, when temperatures dropped, it became clear that Michigan was in for a record-breaking storm. First, two to 10 inches of snow fell from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids in western Michigan. Afterward, up to an inch of freezing rain came down on top of it, creating thick layers of ice.

One of the most devastating aspects of this storm was its prolonged nature. Typically, Michigan does not see temperatures in the range needed for freezing rain, especially for several days at a time. However, this March storm started on the 2nd, and parts of lower Michigan still saw rain and ice accumulation on the 4th. The first part of the storm hit on the 2nd and 3rd, with thicker ice buildup occurring in other areas on March 4th. 

People recorded the most severe ice totals in the far eastern parts of the state, including The Thumb and Saginaw regions. These areas saw up to three inches of ice buildup, while much of southern Michigan saw half an inch to one inch of ice accumulating on trees, roads, and other surfaces.

Damages from the Worst Ice Storm in Michigan

Anywhere from half an inch to three inches of ice accumulated on trees, uprooting many in the hardest hit areas. This layer of ice also weighed down power lines. As many as 500,000 outages occurred throughout Michigan, including 90 percent of customers in the city of Saginaw. This storm, according to the then-president of the state’s electric company, John Hamann, was a disaster.

Some of the hardest hit areas in Michigan were Muskegon, West Michigan, and Grand Rapids. Crews worked 19-hour days to restore power as quickly as possible, but outages lasted until March 12th, over a week after the storm hit.

This storm was particularly destructive due to the multiple stages. Areas first saw snow, which turned into freezing rain in the late evening on March 2nd. The Michigan governor at the time, William Milliken, declared a state of emergency was declared in several areas of the state due to widespread power outages and blocked roadways. This included the cities of Greenville, St. Charles, and Belding in Gratiot County. 

After Effects of the Worst Ice Storm in Michigan

Cities in areas hit by this storm had to contend with thousands of dollars in damage and many hours of cleanup. Even after crews restored power, cities were sawing up downed trees and cleaning up fallen branches. The city of Alma estimated almost $550,000 in damages and a two-month-long cleanup. Almost $200,000 in damages in the city of St. Louis, MI, created a similar mess.

Other Notable Icy Weather Events Impacting Michiganders

• January 1948: Reports of a large ice storm in the eastern portion of Michigan showcase the dangerous aspect of winter storms. In 1948, at least five people died due to icy, cold weather. Up to three inches of ice covered roads and trees, with hundreds of trees falling in Detroit. 
• January 1st, 1985: A major ice storm hit the lower peninsula on New Year’s Day in 1985. At least one inch of ice brought down power lines and tree limbs, with frigid temperatures lingering into the new year.
• March 1997: An ice storm left almost 600,000 customers in Michigan without power in March 1997. At least 400,000 customers did not see power restored until days after the storm hit. The worst-hit areas included Oakland County and the cities of Flint, Jackson, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, and Lansing. 
• April 2003: At the beginning of April 2003, southeast Michigan received a half-inch to one inch of ice. At least 500,000 homes had power outages. Some 50,000 customers did not see power turned back on for well over a week. 
• February 2011: An overnight storm hit late February 20th and early February 21st. In Lenawee County, almost 18,000 customers did not have power. At least 109,000 residents in southern Michigan did not have power. Power outages lasted for days, with many people turning to generators, hotel rooms, and other ways to keep warm. 
• February 2023: On February 22nd, 2023, southeast Michigan was hit with a winter storm that gave areas north of I-69 snow and areas south of I-69 dangerous ice accumulations. Up to a quarter to half an inch of ice caused power lines to snap and led to widespread outages. Ice also brought down tree limbs over many roads in the Detroit metropolitan area.