When Did Michigan Endure Its Most Extreme February Weather?

Michigan's weather has always been weird, wild, and unpredictable. I mean it's almost the middle of February and here we are experiencing temperatures near 60 degrees. While this past week wasn't the warmest February on record, it sure is close.

According to Extreme Weather Watch, Michigan experienced its warmest days in February 1999 and again in 2017. It reached 70 degrees in Detroit on February 11, 1999, and 70 degrees on February 24, 2017.

While we love warmer temps in February, we haven't always been so lucky.

Let's look back at some of the most brutal February weather from Michigan's past.

Michigan's Most Extreme February Weather

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According to The Michigan Weather Center, the dates below highlight some of the state's worst moments in February history.

February 2, 1868: Lansing marked a frigid Groundhog Day as it set an all-time record low, reaching a temperature of minus 37 degrees. It was absolutely brutal.

February 1, 1918: February begins on a bitterly cold tone amid one of the most severe winters in history throughout the central and eastern United States. Muskegon plunges to a record-setting low of 22 degrees below zero.

February 3, 2007: Southwest Lower Michigan experiences blizzard conditions as an arctic blast brings frigid air over Lake Michigan, resulting in thundersnow and whiteout conditions. Grand Rapids achieves a record snowfall for any February day, accumulating 11.3 inches of snow.

February 2, 2011: The Groundhog Day Blizzard pounded a large part of the country from Oklahoma to New England, including southeast Michigan. Heavy snowfall reports included Pigeon (14 inches), Port Huron (14 inches), Lapeer (13.6 inches), Lexington (13.5 inches), Bridgeport (13 inches), Mayville (13 inches), Pinconning (12 inches), Flushing (11 inches), Lake Orion (10 inches), and Romulus (9 inches).

February 1, 2015: A record-breaking snowstorm pounded the Great Lakes Region. gooDetroit accumulated 16.7 inches, ranking as its third-largest snowstorm. Flint experienced its 22nd largest snowstorm with 9.2 inches, and the NWS White Lake recorded 11.2 inches, marking the 8th largest in its climate record.

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What we're experiencing right now I wouldn't put in the normal category. Enjoy the warm temps while they last because next year could be an entirely different story.

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