“We Walked to School and Back Home Uphill Both Ways in a Snowstorm” Might Not Have Been an Exaggeration After All

For generations, Michigan grandparents have told stories about brutal winters where walking to school meant deep snow, bitter cold, and no such thing as snow days. When you look at Michigan winter records going back to 1895, many of those stories are supported by documented history. The state has experienced winters with sustained sub-zero temperatures, wind chills plunging well below zero, and snowfall measured not in inches, but in feet.
By comparison, the 2025–2026 winter season so far has been relatively mild. Temperatures have fluctuated widely, but there has been little prolonged deep cold and no long-lasting, state-shutting snowpack. Against Michigan’s historical record, this winter looks tame, especially when stacked next to the most severe winters on record.
Top 10 Most Severe Michigan Winter Seasons (Least Severe to Worst):
2013–2014: Repeated sub-zero cold snaps with snowfall exceeding 10 feet in parts of the state during the polar vortex winter.
1977–1978: Blizzard of ’78 brought wind chills near -60°F and massive drifts exceeding 10 feet in some areas.
1903–1904: Persistent cold with snow piling up to roughly 3 feet across much of Michigan.
2018–2019: Polar vortex outbreaks pushed wind chills near -40°F with snowfall topping 2 feet in many regions.
1962–1963: Extended stretches below -20°F combined with about 2 feet of snow statewide.
2000–2001: Repeated winter storms delivered more than 2.5 feet of snow and weeks of icy travel conditions.
1935–1936: Long-lasting sub-zero temperatures with snow depths exceeding 2 feet for extended periods.
1993–1994: Deep freezes near -30°F paired with about 2 feet of snow and significant ice events.
1981–1982: Heavy snow totals exceeding 2.5 feet combined with a prolonged deep freeze.
1935–1936: Widely regarded as the harshest overall, with temperatures dropping below -30°F and snow depths surpassing 3 feet in parts of the state.
When those winters are placed side by side with today’s conditions, the contrast is clear. While Michigan can still deliver tough winters, the kind that built those “uphill both ways” stories were real, documented, and far more punishing than what most residents have experienced so far during the 2025–2026 season.