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Winter in Oakland County, Michigan
72 winter storms and snow events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Winter Storm, Winter Weather, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Ice Storm, Lake-Effect Snow, Sleet.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
NCEI records 72 winter events in Oakland County, Michigan, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 28 years.
December is the busiest month, with 20 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 41 events against 31 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.7% of the 10,836 winter events recorded in Michigan; its 8.3 per 100 square miles compares with 19.1 statewide.
NCEI attributes 2 deaths in the county to winter storms and snow.
Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.
Compared with Michigan
| Measure | Oakland County | Michigan | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter events since 1950 | 72 | 10,836 | 287,339 |
| Per 100 square miles | 8.3 | 19.1 | 8.1 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 0.6 | 10.8 | 8.7 |
| Deaths recorded | 2 | 52 | 2,509 |
| Busiest month | December | January | January |
By year
Seasonality
17Feb
16Mar
11Apr
5May
0Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
1Nov
2Dec
20
Recorded events
All 72 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Jan 2024 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Mar 2023 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Feb 2023 | Ice Storm | — | $11M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Jan 2023 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Dec 2022 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Feb 2021 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Jan 2020 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Nov 2019 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Apr 2018 | Winter Storm | — | $6.0M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Mar 2018 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Mar 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Dec 2017 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Dec 2016 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Feb 2016 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Nov 2015 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Feb 2015 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Mar 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jan 2014 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Dec 2013 | Ice Storm | — | $3.0M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Dec 2012 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Feb 2011 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Feb 2011 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Dec 2010 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Feb 2010 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Feb 2010 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Apr 2009 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jan 2009 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Jan 2009 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Dec 2008 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Mar 2008 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Mar 2008 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Feb 2008 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Feb 2008 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Jan 2008 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Dec 2007 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Dec 2007 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Dec 2007 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | 1 | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Mar 2007 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Feb 2007 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Jan 2007 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Jan 2007 | Ice Storm | — | $450K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Dec 2006 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Feb 2006 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2005 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2005 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Apr 2005 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Feb 2005 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 2005 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Dec 2004 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Jan 2004 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Jan 2004 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Apr 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Apr 2003 | Ice Storm | — | $100M | — | 1 | 2 | Forecast zone |
| 4 Mar 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Feb 2003 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Feb 2002 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Jan 2002 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Feb 2001 | Ice Storm | — | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Dec 2000 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Dec 2000 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Dec 2000 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Dec 2000 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Oct 2000 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Mar 1999 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Jan 1999 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Jan 1999 | Winter Weather | — | $350K | — | — | 3 | Forecast zone |
| 2 Jan 1999 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Jan 1999 | Heavy Snow | — | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Dec 1997 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Mar 1997 | Ice Storm | — | $4.0M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Dec 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Mar 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Questions and answers
How many winter events has Oakland County had?
72 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of winter storms and snow became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded winter event in Oakland County?
12 Jan 2024 (Winter Storm). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging winter event recorded in Oakland County?
The ice storm of 3 Apr 2003, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $100M; 1 death recorded.
How does Oakland County compare with Michigan for winter?
8.3 events per 100 square miles against 19.1 statewide; the county holds 72 of the state's 10,836 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Winter hub and the county page.