DETROIT – Winter could arrive early across Ohio and Michigan this year, with La Niña expected to push above-normal precipitation into the Great Lakes and fuel frequent snow events through February. Forecasters warn that snow may show up in September for parts of northern Michigan, with heavier systems likely to follow across both states as winter deepens.
According to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, La Niña will steer the main storm track across the Great Lakes, increasing the odds of snowier conditions in cities like Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit, and Grand Rapids. Lake-effect potential is also heightened, especially downwind of Lake Erie and Lake Michigan, where bursts of heavy snow could pile up quickly. The Farmers’ Almanac describes the upcoming season as “Chill, Snow, Repeat” — a blunt summary for what may be a long winter.
Hazardous travel is expected on key corridors including I-75, I-94, and the Ohio Turnpike, where slick conditions and whiteouts are likely during peak systems. Power crews are also preparing for ice storm potential, particularly in southern Michigan and northern Ohio, where mixed precipitation events are common during La Niña winters.
The cold, stormy pattern is forecast to linger into February, keeping much of the Ohio–Michigan region locked in an active winter season with repeated snow and ice threats.
