Cottage Ice Storm Update

A once-in-a-generation ice storm slammed Northern Michigan from March 28 through March 30 with ice accumulation reaching 1-1.5 inches in some areas.. The 40 acre lot our cottage sits on was one of those areas. And unlike a tornado, which touches down and causes damage for a few miles, the ice storm swept across 12 counties.

According to a DNR official, “It’s potentially tens of millions of trees, by that math. The financial losses aren’t yet clear.”

“For vacationers and passersby, the hardest-hit woods will look and feel different for an entire generation. Tree crowns are completely or partially gone. Where before you might’ve been able to walk through the woods, you can’t now.”

It’s estimated tens of millions of trees were impacted.

The ‘X’ is where our cottage is located, 12 km east of Gaylord, where ice totals were in the 1-1.15” range. A 1-inch layer of ice can add approximately 5lbs per square foot, leading to significant tree damage.