The Mackinac Bridge closed to all traffic Sunday morning due to the harsh winter storm beginning to sweep through northern Michigan.
"Blowing winds and snow have made visibility so poor that it's not safe to cross the Mackinac Bridge so we've closed it as a precaution for now," said James Lakes, a spokesperson for the Mackinac Bridge Authority.
The Authority is asking motorists who are approaching the bridge to reduce their speed to 20 mph and to be prepared to stop. At both ends of the bridge, personnel are stationed to provide people with instructions.
"We'll open it again as soon as possible if conditions improve," Lake said.
The National Weather Service has issued blizzard warnings for much of the Upper Peninsula, where 1-3 feet of snow is expected, with isolated totals near 4 feet.
The tip of the mitt can expect 6-16 inches of snow, and up to half an inch of ice. Travel across the region is being discouraged by local agencies across the region.
Snow this AM, heaviest across Tip of the Mitt-E UP. Snow changes to a mix w/significant icing possible in N Lower later today thru tonight. Power outages & impacts to infrastructure possible during this time frame where higher end icing is realized. Snow & wind continue Monday. pic.twitter.com/i4s3Y3vyDu
— NWS Gaylord (@NWSGaylord) March 15, 2026
South of Traverse City and Alpena, a wintery mix is expected Sunday with icing and a few more inches of snow being listed as possible in the forecast, according to the NWS.
Historically, when the bridge has closed, local restaurants, gas stations and convenience stores in both St. Ignace and Mackinaw City have provided stranded motorists with refuge. Lake previously told WCMU that store owners have helped people in the past as needed and each of these communities has a culture of lending a helping hand.
The Mackinac Bridge is the only structure that connects the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The only other means to travel between the two is to go through Wisconsin or Ontario, Canada.
According to the website of the Mackinac Bridge Authority, the shortest closure of the Mackinac Bridge was 37 minutes on Nov. 29, 2001, while the longest closure in the bridge's 68-year history lasted 30 hours and 4 minutes from April 2-3, 2025, because of the historic ice storm that pummeled much of the northern Lower Peninsula.
One of the more common causes of the bridge's closure in the past has been falling ice. Officials at the Authority have previously said that chunks of ice that have fallen from the bridge have been the size of garage doors.
Mike Horace contributed reporting to this story.
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