The possibility of snowfall in Michigan during September

MICHIGAN — Michigan, known for its long and snowy winters, typically does not see measurable snowfall until much later in the year. However, historical weather records show that snow in September, while rare, is not impossible.

According to the National Weather Service, the earliest measurable snowfall ever recorded in Michigan occurred on September 24, 1974, when 0.2 inches fell in Ironwood in the Upper Peninsula.

Other northern Michigan locations have also reported light snowflakes in late September, though accumulation has been minimal.

In the Lower Peninsula, snow in September is even less common. Grand Rapids and Detroit, for example, have no official records of measurable snowfall during the month. However, trace amounts—meaning flurries that do not accumulate—have been observed on rare occasions.

Climatologists explain that Michigan’s northern location and proximity to the Great Lakes create conditions where an early cold air mass could mix with lingering moisture to produce flurries, especially in the Upper Peninsula and higher elevations.

Still, September temperatures across most of the state are usually too warm to support anything more than a brief dusting.

On average, Michigan’s first measurable snow tends to fall in October in the Upper Peninsula and November in the Lower Peninsula. The September cases stand out as historical anomalies rather than regular patterns.

In short, while it is not typical, Michigan has indeed seen snow in September—mostly in the far north and under unusual weather conditions. For most of the state, the month remains a time of late summer warmth and early autumn changes, with winter weather still weeks away.