Yes, Michigan’s winter has been ‘extreme.’ How climate center ranks season

Michigan’s cold and snowy winter has been “extreme” for many residents, according to a Purdue University-based group that tracks Midwest climate.

The Midwestern Regional Climate Center currently ranks this winter, from Nov. 9, 2025, to Feb. 6, 2026, severe or extreme for more than half the 17 locations it is tracking in Michigan through its Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index.

“Winter seasons have significant societal impacts across all sectors ranging from direct human health and mortality to commerce, transportation, and education,” the MRCC said on its website. “The question ‘How severe was this winter?’ does not have a simple answer. At the very least, the severity of a winter is related to the intensity and persistence of cold weather, the amount of snow, and the amount and persistence of snow on the ground.”

While some locations in Michigan are currently experiencing “average” conditions, according to the index, every location tracked has accumulated more index points this winter than at the same time a year ago based on snow and cold temperatures. In addition, none of the Michigan locations were experiencing severe or extreme conditions at this point in 2024-25.

The Midwestern Regional Climate Center, a partnership with the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, tracks climate across nine states, and 176 cities within Michigan.

The index tries to objectively quantify and describe the relative severity of the winter season for various locations, the MRCC said, based on how much snow they get and how cold it is.

The index tracks 365 locations across the continental U.S. for each season from 1950‐51 to the current winter season.

Here’s a look at how it rates this winter across the state.

How does the winter index work?

The AWSSI is not limited to meteorological winter (December ‐ February), and instead includes winter weather from its earliest occurrence to its last, starting when:

• First measurable snowfall greater than or equal to 0.1 inch.
• Maximum temperature less than or equal to 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
• The season reaches Dec. 1, if conditions above have not been observed

The index accumulates data until the last occurrence of any of:

• Last measurable snowfall greater than or equal to 0.1 inch.
• Last day with 1 inch of snow on the ground.
• Last day with max temperature less than or equal to 32 degrees.
• Winter season ends Feb. 28 (or 29) if the above conditions have occurred.

The index accumulates points to each tracked location based on temperature and snowfall totals, and their amount or severity.

High temperatures from 25 to 32 degrees accumulate 1 point, while a high of minus 20 accumulates 10 points.

Snowfall of up to an inch gains 1 point for a location while 9-11 inches gains 6 points and 24-25 inches receives 10.

The index compares the current points total for a site to the percentile for all previous years tracked to determine whether a site is experiencing mild, moderate, average, severe or extreme weather.

How many locations in Michigan are suffering an extreme winter?

The MRCC’s winter index rates this winter as extreme at eight locations: Marquette, Herman, Muskegon, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Flint, Ann Arbor and Detroit.

Here’s how they rank as of Feb. 6 with the high points for the date, low and last year’s points:

• Herman: 1,799 points. High — 2,106 points. Low — 810 points. Last year — mild, 1,262 points.
• Marquette: 1,434 points. High — 1,632 points. Low — 666 points. Last year — mild, 891 points.
• Muskegon: 712 points. High — 1,079 points. Low — 231 points. Last year — average, 440 points.
• Grand Rapids: 684 points. High — 912 points. Low — 219 points. Last year — moderate, 440 points.
• Ann Arbor: 675 points. High — 794 points. Low — 195 points. Last year — average, 332 points.
• Flint: 648 points. High — 828 points. Low — 190 points. Last year — moderate, 396 points.
• Lansing: 632 points. High — 945 points. Low — 228 points. Last year — mild, 418 points.
• Detroit: 568 points. High — 732 points. Low — 159. Last year — moderate, 284 points.

Marquette scored big on a few dates this winter. On Jan. 23, the “high” was minus 7 and the low minus 19 — giving the city 18 temperature points for the day. On Jan. 25, Marquette saw a high of 7 and a low of minus 27, totaling 20 temperature points.

In addition, the city scored 32 points for snowfall on Dec. 29 when 17.1 inches fell.

In Herman, the city scored 36 points for snowfall on Dec. 29 when 20 inches was recorded.

Detroit, which typically sees less snow, scored 11 snowfall points on Jan. 25 when 4.8 inches fell. The city accumulated 13 temperature points on Jan. 24 when the high was 7 and the low minus 10.

Which Michigan cities are experiencing a severe winter?

The MRCC’s index rates the winter severe for Sault Ste. Marie, Ironwood, Houghton Lake, Iron Mountain and Saginaw as of Feb. 6.

Here’s how they rank with the high points, low and last year’s points for the date:

• Ironwood: 1,435 points. High — 1,922 points. Low — 626 points. Last year — mild, 928 points.
• Sault Ste. Marie: 1,242 points. High — 1,738 points. Low — 528 points. Last year — data not available.
• Houghton lake: 873 points. High — 1,248 points. Low — 339 points. Last year — moderate, 609 points.
• Iron Mountain (through Jan. 31): 871 points. High — 1,265 points. Low — 354 points. Last year — mild, 515.
• Saginaw: 574 points. High — 828. Low — 227 points. Last year — moderate, 361 points.

Is winter considered average anywhere in Michigan?

The MRCC says winter has been average for Port Huron, Alpena and Cheboygan.

Here’s how they rank as of Feb. 6, with the high, low and last year’s points for the date:

• Port Huron (through Jan. 12): 158 points. High — 488 points. Low — 37 points.
• Alpena: 751 points. High — 1,243 points. Low — 392 points. Last year — mild, 497 points.
• Cheboygan: 674 points. High — 1,197.points. Low — 339 points. Last year — mild, 506 points.

How much snow has your town received?