What’s happening: With snowfall totals continuing to climb and lake effect expected through the week, one question is starting to surface across Michigan’s snow belt: Is the Keweenaw on track for a historic winter? As of this Monday, the Keweenaw Peninsula received 187.75 inches of snow, far outpacing last winter’s totals at this same point. By comparison, only 143.25 inches had fallen by late January last year — a difference of more than 40 inches. Keweenaw’s all-time snowfall record is 390.4 inches.

Additional context: February has historically played an outsized role in the Keweenaw’s snowiest seasons. Just last winter, the region picked up 91 inches of snow in February alone. Looking back over the past two decades, the single snowiest month on record was December 2013, when an incredible 126 inches fell across the peninsula — a reminder that big monthly totals are always possible under the right conditions.

Historical trends: The past offers a note of caution. Years that follow a pattern similar to this season — moderate November snowfall (~30 inches), strong December totals (~75 inches), and a robust January (80+ inches) — have often been followed by a more modest February, averaging closer to 50 inches, before tapering off into March and April.

To keep tabs: You can keep an eye on every inch of snow that falls on Visit Keweenaw’s: Snowfall & Trail Conditions page.