I was going to do a December extremes past part ll but I changed my mind and will do a past Christmas instead. This will be sort of a expanded version of Climatology for today. And will include both Christmas Eve and Christmas day. First for December 24th at Grand Rapids the average H/L is 33/21 the record highest is 59° in 2015. The coldest high for the date is +7° in 1983 the record low is -9° in 1944 the most precip 1.79” fell in 1979 The most snow for Christmas Eve at Grand Rapids is 7.5” in 1993 the most on the ground at 7 AM is 19” in 1951. For Lansing the records a t Lansing go all the way back to 1863 so there is a much longer record range there. At Lansing the average for December 24th is 32/20° the record high is 63° set in 1893 the coldest maximum is +3 set in 1870. The record low at Lansing is -13° set om 1897. The warmest minimum is 48 set in 1982 the most precip of 1.40” fell in 1979 the most snow of 7.0” fell in 1884 the most on the ground at Lansing 17” in 1878.
As for Christmas day at Grand Rapids the average H/L is 32/21 the record warmest is 65° in 1982 The coldest maximum is 10° in 1983. The record low is -3° in 1983 the most precip of 1.01” fell in 1982 (thunderstorm?) the most snow of 7.0” fell in 1990 the most snow on the ground 22” in 1951. At Lansing The average H/L for Christmas day is 32/20° the record warmest is 65° in 1982 the coldest maximum is +8 set in 1983 the record low is -20° set in 2000 the most precip is 0.77” set in 1982 the most snow fell of 7.0” fell in 1965 the most on the ground 20” was in 1951.
At Grand Rapids over the past 30 years there have been 18 years with one or more inches of snow on the ground on the morning of December 24th and 12 with a trace or none. On Christmas day there have been 20 with a inch or more (one inch in 1995, 1997, and 2003) all the way to 16” in 2000 there was 13” in 2008. Last year at Grand Rapids the H/L on the 24th was 37/33 and that day started with 7” of snow on the ground. Christmas day the H/L was 35/33° and the day started with 5” of snow on the ground. The high reached 53 at Grand Rapids on the 26th and the snow was all gone on that date. At Lansing the H/L on the 24th was 38/34 with 4” on the ground and on Christmas day the H/L was 36/33 and the day started with 3” on the ground. At Lansing the high reached 55° on the 26th and there just like Grand Rapids the snow was then all gone.
Not sure about other parts of the country but here in Grand Rapids there have only been 2 times when there was no snow on the ground for December 24th and there was a snow fall on Christmas Eve. Here in Grand Rapids that has only happened in 1965 when a 6” event happened on Christmas Eve/morning and in 1995 when a 1.2” event happened on Christmas Eve. In 1964 Christmas started out with no snow on the ground but 1.5” fell during the day. All other white Christmases had snow on the ground before Christmas Eve. The chances for a white Christmas here in Grand Rapids is just over 70% here is a list of Michigan cities and their chances.
Marquette – 100%
Sault Saint Marie – 100%
Pellston – 89%
Traverse City – 87%
Alpena – 83%
Houghton Lake – 82%
Grand Rapids – 73%
Lansing – 73%
Muskegon – 70%
Flint – 63%
Saginaw/Bay City/Midland – 61%
Detroit – 50%
Those are not my numbers they are from Mlive (for what it is worth) anyway in taking a closer look at the Sault going back to 1932 (that is as far as their snow depth record go) there have been 3 Christmases where less than 1 inch of snow was on the ground 1952, 2006 and 2015 in 1952 and 2006 it snowed on Christmas day in 2015 it did not. So, 2015 was a brown Christmas at the Soo. Over in Marquette going back to 1948 (that is as far as their daily snow depth records go) they have no years with 0 snow on the ground but do have 3 Christmases with a Trace they are 1994, 2006 and 2015 it snowed on Christmas day in 1994 and 2006 but it did not in 2015 so that must have been a brown Christmas there but they might have had snow piles left. So yes it is not 100% at either location but in the upper 90% range.
Merry Christmas and lets see how Christmas 2017 turns out weather wise.
Check this out!
http://www.weather.gov/images/erh/gis/GRR_Snow.png
HERE IS The Snow RIGHT NOW…..
The lake-shore looks promising!
http://wxcaster.com/gis-gfs-snow-overlays2.php?STATIONID=GRR
TC…Looks Better..
Yes and I am heading up to the TC/Boyne Mt area next week for some skiing! It looks incredible!
Merry Christmas Rocky…and….Family.
God Bless…..
Thanks and Merry Christmas!
It looks pretty good.
http://www.weather.gov/images/erh/gis/LP_state_Snow.png
Rocky, can you post the link to these maps?
I am not sure how to copy the this link. When I copy the link and paste it the entire image shows up?
RE POST…. Jack Edwards
HEAR is a TUNE From A Christmas PAST!!!
Classic CUE —–>> The Band “Christmas Must Be Tonight” – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5bKtRU0Q6c
Happy Birthday to Michael V’s wife!!!
The GRR NWS’s WWA for Ottawa, Muskegon, and Kent Counties makes no sense. They have it starting at 7 p.m. AFTER we supposedly get several inches during the day. The Advisory says only “2 to 4 inches” yet the forecast for tomorrow night through Monday for the Muskegon area would be 3 to 5 inches, not including the 2 to 3 inches they say we are getting during the day. Thus, we have an advisory 2-4 inches for an event that starts much earlier than 7 p.m. and is to bring us 5 to 8 inches according to the “area… Read more »
I agree that is does not correlate very well?
The point forecast for Muskegon now says 2″ for Sunday and 2″ for Sunday night. Ours says 2″ total for the entire event. Im not confident we will get that much.
Looking AWESOME!
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/610day/610temp.new.gif
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/610day/610prcp.new.gif
For what it is worth GRR has now issued a WWA for late tomorrow into Christmas day. I added the sarcasm because of a couple of the recent past WWA for our area did not pan out that well
Slim
SNOW, COLD, WIND! It won’t take more than an inch or two of the SNOW for the road conditions to deteriorate fast! Will we get at least an inch by Monday morning at the GR airport to count as a white Christmas! My odds are still sitting at 99.9%!!!!!!!!!!!!
You may be right on that one. In fact the case could be made that here in my area we already have a (mostly white Christmas criteria) as for road conditions yes one inch of snow can be a issue.
Slim
Wondering whether GRR will put the lakeshore counties here in West Michigan under a WWA or a Winter Storm Warning through Monday. Snow could exceed 6 inches (high ratios) with gusty winds.
Good question – my hunch is a WWA for the entire area.
Most of the area has one.
Slim
Thanks for the interesting write up, Slim.
Lots of black ice here last night and this morning, as the residual moisture from the light snowfall made an icy layer on roads and sidewalks.
Climatology for today December 23rd At Grand Rapids, MI
The average H/L is 33/21
The record high is 60° set in 2015 the coldest maximum is +8 set in 1960
The record low is -11° in 1989 the warmest minimum is 45 in 1979
The most precip is 1.02” in 1932
The largest snow fall is 5.9” in 2008 the most on the ground is 19” in 1951
Last year the H/L low was 36/28 1.5” of snow fell and there was 6” on the ground.
slim
At this time the official snow depth at Grand Rapids is just a trace. Here at my house the ground is about 70% covered so there are a lot of snow piles and most areas still have about 2” of snow but the south side of the house and some open areas are bare. At this time I am not sure just how much snow west Michigan will get on Christmas Eve. As for Christmas day and beyond in the past the general rule is with cold dry air any lake effect the flake size will be very small and… Read more »
Here is a quick look at were we stand as of December 22, 2017 At this time Grand Rapids is just about at average the current departure for the temperature is -0.1° The snow fall so far in December is 18.5” and for the season GR is now at 19.1” In the center of the state Lansing they also are at average for temperature with a departure of +0.1° there snow fall so far this month is now at 11.6” and for the season it is 12.0” On the east side of the state Detroit is warmer than average at… Read more »
How could that be Detroit is forecast to get 7 inches of snow Sunday glad I did not count them out on a white Christmas .. INDYDOG!!
Good Morning and I think it is time to review the FACTS! 1. We are above normal in snowfall for December and more is on the way! 2. The CPC continues to show near to below normal temps for the ENTIRE WINTER! The CPC continues to show above normal snowfall for the rest of WINTER! 3. We will be seeing accumulating SNOWFALL on Christmas eve and Christmas day! 4. GR will have a white Christmas! 5. MV and Slim provide awesome weather information! We are thankful for their input!! 6. The RDB model has undergone a software update and will… Read more »
http://www.weather.gov/images/erh/gis/LP_state_Snow.png
Hey, Rocky. I have tried googling and searching the NOAA website for these maps you post. Do you have a link?
If this is the map we’re supposed to believe, then it appears there is a slight chance for dusting by Christmas.
http://www.instantweathermaps.com/GFS-php/showmap-conussfc.php?run=2017122300&time=PER&var=ASNOWI&hour=048
Merry CHRISTmas To The SLIM~JIM Household…..
From JACK & IRENE @ Thee YARDofCUES…
Thank you
And A very Merry Christmas to you and Irene
slim
Here is The Latest From NWS GR…..
http://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=grr&product=AFD&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1
HEAR is a TUNE From A Christmas PAST!!!
Classic CUE —–>> The Band “Christmas Must Be Tonight” – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5bKtRU0Q6c