CADILLAC, MI -- There was a lot of hype for the early February storm, which had been coined the “Snow-pocalypse,” “Snow-mageddon,” and “Snow-quake.” Northern Michigan was on the northern edge of the storm, but portions did get hit.
In Wexford County, homes, cars, and driveways were all buried.
Residents we spoke with got more than a foot of snow and drifts several feet high.
In Cadillac, people expected the snow, but this much?
"We were surprised, this did catch us by surprise," said Cadillac Mayor Bill Barnett.
Barnett looked out his window and said, "oh boy." He's the mayor of Cadillac, but the weather was the executive order, a two hour dig-out session before he could go anywhere.
"I got almost two feet, or at least 20, to 16 inches, here in our driveway," Barnett said.
"Well they said it was the blizzard of the century, I didn't expect this much snow," laughed Elizabeth Brunink, the manager of Shay Station Coffee.
Business was slow at the Shay Station Coffee and Wine Bar in downtown Cadillac, several other businesses were closed. Brunink woke up and said wow! And then was 15 minutes late.
"I got stuck in my driveway, I had to have somebody pick me up," Brunink laughed.
One of the problems with the snow is how light it is, and because the wind's blowing, it's drifting up in areas. In some parts of Cadillac, more than two feet added up.
"I’m glad to see there are not a lot of people out on the roads," said Eric Garland, a deputy with the Wexford County Sheriff’s Office.
Garland took me out to the rural parts of Wexford County, where drifts were five, six, even seven feet high. He says when it drifts like this, the smart thing to do is stay inside.
"The snow tends to make your vehicle go where it wants it to go, rather than where you want it to go," said Garland.
In fact, several people who did take the streets probably wished they hadn't.
"We’ve had a lot of cars in the ditch today, some fender benders, some rear-enders, those types of things," said Linda Young, the Wexford County Dispatch Supervisor.
Linda Young says when it snows, priorities are set. The road commission is also on call, if emergency crews need to get past the impassable.
“If it's something that seems like it might be impassible, we can get a hold of the road commission, they work with us very well," said Young.
"If the summer is going to be nice, and the spring will be nice, I can sacrifice this winter and enjoy the four seasons," said Neal Rabun, a Cadillac resident.
Neal Rabun's driveway wasn't too clear, he still had a lot of work to do, but he knows better than putting his snowblower away already.
“The groundhog didn't see his shadow, but I see mine," laughed Rabun.
Of course that last reference is for Groundhogs Day. Wednesday morning, Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow, which means only six weeks of winter left.
Cadillac residents are not buying it.
