Total snowfall so far through December
© NOAATotal snowfall so far through December 13, 2024
One of Michigan's snowiest cities is already just a few inches shy of last year's entire winter snowfall. Here's a look at how much snow has already fallen across Michigan.

Most of our snow so far has been lake-effect snow. This means the snowfall totals are heavy in the typical snowbelts of northwest Lower, southwest Lower and the northern half of the Upper Peninsula. Outside of the snowbelts we have had some snow, but totals are just around the normal pace to even a few inches below normal.

Gaylord has already shoveled 85.5 inches of snow. Last year Gaylord totaled 87 inches for the entire winter. Lower Michigan's top-5 snowiest city will have more snow than all of last winter by next weekend.

Traverse City has already had 44 inches of snow this winter. That amount is 30 inches above normal. Last winter only had 67 inches of total snow.



Grand Rapids residents have shoveled 25 inches so far, which is 10 inches above normal. Kalamazoo has tallied 17 inches, three inches above normal. I want to give a shout out and thank you to WMU in Kalamazoo for being diligent at giving reliable snow measurements in such a key southwest snowbelt city!


Since the snow has been lake-effect and not widespread weather system snow, the eastern half of Lower Michigan has a much different snow story. Detroit has had five inches of snow, which is near normal. Flint has had six inches and is two inches below normal. Saginaw has only had two inches of snow and is running six inches below normal. The interior parts of central and northeast Lower Michigan have missed the lake-effect and are several inches below normal.

It's already a much different winter compared to last winter's "non-winter," and we still have a long ways to go in winter.