MICHIGAN — Michigan is no stranger to snow, but determining the earliest recorded snowfall in the state depends on location and how “snowfall” is defined.
Meteorological records show that the earliest measurable snowfall in Michigan took place on September 12, 1975, in Negaunee Township in the Upper Peninsula.
On that date, the National Weather Service reported 1.4 inches of accumulation.
This remains the earliest confirmed instance of measurable snow in the state’s history. While there are earlier reports of trace snow—such as flurries noted near Houghton and Hancock in 1917—those events did not reach the measurable threshold, meaning less than 0.1 inches was observed.
The Upper Peninsula frequently sees Michigan’s earliest snowfalls due to its colder climate, higher elevations, and proximity to Canadian air masses. These factors often allow for snowfall weeks before the Lower Peninsula sees its first flakes.
For comparison, the Detroit area’s earliest measurable snowfall on record is much later: October 12, 2006, when 0.1 inches was logged.
The earliest one-inch snowfall for Detroit was October 19, 1989. In West Michigan, October 12, 2006, also stands out as a notably early event, while some records in Lower Michigan, such as Big Rapids and Manistee, show measurable snow as early as October 2, 1974.
The wide range of dates reflects Michigan’s diverse climate. While the Upper Peninsula can experience snow in mid-September, most of the Lower Peninsula typically does not see measurable snow until mid-October or November.
Because snowfall is recorded differently across regions and historical records vary in completeness, pinpointing the “first snow” depends on whether one is referring to trace amounts or measurable accumulation. Still, the September 12, 1975, storm in Negaunee Township stands as the earliest confirmed measurable snowfall ever recorded in Michigan.
