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Christmas Week Outlook – The Michigan Weather Center
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Christmas Week Outlook

Keep in mind when longer-range forecasts and outlooks are made our computer models are looking at systems in the Pacific and trying to guess their formation and track into the continental U.S. (CONUS).  This is why the excitement (or trepidation) comes when snow is mentioned in a forecast and there is often a letdown or rejoicing when said system fails to come into lower Michigan.

Once again, snow is mentioned for Monday which would be a welcome change for the first day of the winter solstice which begins at 5:02 am.  At this point, it looks to have little or no impact in SW Michigan, this is my take on this system because temps will remain at or above freezing.  The clipper wave is in Alberta Canada this morning.

This is the NWS take for Monday, but having cried wolf on several systems I take it with a grain of salt:  It appears most locations will have the chance at seeing accumulations from a dusting to near 2 inches. The exception will be along the lakeshore where lake effect will kick in on the back side of the wave as we head into Monday evening/night. There may be a few spots along the lakeshore that pick up several inches of snow from the clipper/lake effect combo. At this point not expecting to need headlines as the snow falls over a couple of forecast periods and surface temperatures will be near to slightly above freezing which will mitigate impacts.

The system which is getting all the excitement is the Christmas Eve, Christmas snows.  The big question is will we have a synoptic event before lake effect kicks in.  There is confidence in lake snows in the favored west and northwest flow snow belts as overnight temps drop into the teens and temps will be in the 20s on Christmas.

As with all things these guesses are apt to change as we progress through the week and I as one voice would like to see a white Christmas to make all the lights on my house sparkle in the snow if only for a day or so…



 

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Sandy (Hudsonville)
Sandy (Hudsonville)

I too would love to see snow for Christmas. The Christmas lights always look so pretty with the snow and everything is just brighter.

Jack Edwards
Jack Edwards

I’m All For a WHITE Christmas and I agree with MV it Enhances The Effect of The Twinkling Christmas LIGHTS. That being Said It Can Melt after a Few hours and That would Be Just Fine with ME if that’s all The Snow we get for the SEASON!
Bahh,,,,Humbug to Snow. LOL

INDY
INDY

Decently no 50’s and 60’s this year for Christmas day who would of thought?? INDY

Rocky (Rockford)
Rocky (Rockford)

Bring it!

Rocky (Rockford)
Rocky (Rockford)

Big day tomorrow as it will be the first day of winter and all signs point towards a transition to cold and snowy! Bring it! Rock n roll will never die! Get prepared now!

Bernie (Hamilton)
Bernie (Hamilton)

Great narrative on the upcoming week’s weather. I checked out the windy.com website. I wasn’t aware that it was stacked with parameters other than the wind. Having only poked around the website for about 5 minutes or so, I think I will be coming back to it often. Any other worthwhile weather websites that you frequent often (other than this site, of course)!

Nathan (Forest Hills)
Nathan (Forest Hills)

A great wind and temperature map that I use is earth.nullschool.net. It is interesting to look at ocean SSTAs, where the La Nina is really well defined. Otherwise this website and bills blog are definitely my favorites for Michigan weather.

Barry in Zeeland
Barry in Zeeland

I like your wording MV on the NWS, “having cried wolf on several systems”. Seems we have a couple of those here to. Big day tomorrow as we reach the record for latest 1 inch of snow. That is one of the more impressive weather records to reach considering we often get an inch or two of snow in October and almost always get some range of snow in November. But to make it to about the last week in December? Wow!

Slim

In 1998 Grand Rapids had 0.2″ of snow on November 11. only trace amounts were reported December 7th, 17th and 18th and then on December 20th 0.2″ was recorded. On December 21st Grand Rapids then reported 0.9″ of snow fall. This winter season so far Grand Rapids has reported a trace on October 30th. 0.2″ on November 1st 0.2″ on November 24th and a trace was reported on November 15,16,17,22 and 30th In December Grand Rapids has reported trace amounts on the 8th 12th 13th and 14th. Then 16th 17th and 19th. There was no snow that stayed on the… Read more »