A swath of freezing rain seemed to be contained to Ottawa, Kent and Ionia counties overnight as seen in the Consumers outage map above as of 8am. Here in Otsego we remained just above freezing with mainly rain overnight, picking up .78 of an inch. We have another round of freezing precip coming in tonight which should fall north of I96 this time with rain south. Tomorrow we could see temps back up around 50° before falling back to the teens and 20s for the remainder of the week.
In my initial winter forecast I stated my main fear was freezing rain for this winter – at least I got that part right – Slim was the one who predicted a mild winter which has been spot on with the exception of two weeks.
Winter is slowly fading away and we can start to look at a spring and summer forecast – this is not to say we won’t see more snow and cold – my wife and I were married on March 2nd during a lake effect snow storm. With this depressing winter I for one am ready for it to come to an end.
Weather History
February 3
2007: Blizzard conditions prevail across southwest Lower Michigan as an arctic blast of frigid air moving over Lake Michigan produces thundersnow and whiteout conditions. Grand Rapids sets a record for snowfall for any February day with 11.3 inches of snow.
February 4
1838: An ice jam on the Grand River causes flooding of much of Grand Rapids during early February. Several people had to be rescued from flooded neighborhoods and at the fur trading post.
1996: One of the coldest arctic outbreaks of the 20th century sends the thermometer down to 17 below zero at Grand Rapids and 19 below at Muskegon, both records for the date.
February 5
1890: Temperatures more like April than February prevail during one of the mildest winters on record in Lower Michigan. Lansing sets a record high of 61 degrees for the second day in a row.
1918: Frigid weather holds on across Lower Michigan with the temperature falling to record lows of 16 below zero at Muskegon and 21 below at Lansing.
February 6
1895: Lower Michigan is in the midst of a week long siege of arctic air. High temperatures struggle through the single numbers while morning lows fall well below zero. Lansing falls to 14 below zero on this date after lows of 24 below on the 4th and 20 below on the 5th. Grand Rapids hits 9 below after falling to 16 below on the 5th.
1938: The weight of ice and water carried away the west side of the Rogue river dam at Childsdale.The Souffrow bridge near North Belmont was closed to traffic as its footing had been swept away by the river. Several houses along the east bank of the Grand River were flooded.
2008: Near blizzard conditions occur across part of Lower Michigan with snowfall rates of one to two inches per hour. More than a foot of snow fell north of Interstate 96 to Route 10. Further south, a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain occurred from Kalamazoo to Jackson. The storm drops more than 8 inches of snow at Grand Rapids, contributing to the snowiest February on record with 41.6 inches.
February 7
1899: The greatest arctic outbreak in United States history begins a period of extreme cold in Michigan. Grand Rapids hits 15 below zero. During the next week, temperatures will fall to all time record lows across the state and much of the continental U.S.
February 8
1925: A four-day warm spell with highs over 50 degrees across southwest Lower Michigan peaks with a record high of 60 degrees at Grand Rapids.
February 9
1875: The temperature tumbles to 32 degrees below zero at Lansing and 20 below at Detroit during one of the coldest months on record in Lower Michigan. The mean temperature for the entire month at Lansing is 4.7 degrees, the coldest month ever recorded there.
1934: The coldest temperature ever recorded in Michigan occurred at Vanderbilt, with a low of 51 degrees below zero.
Well for snow left on the ground here it is easier to just snap a photo. Here is one of our yard I just took. If you zoom in, you can see the fields off in the distance. More bare ground than snow covered ground:
http://tinypic.com/usermedia.php?uo=jJm7XUcEEIzCR%2FzhzRGKUoh4l5k2TGxc#.XFs7joxOmhA
I guess I could go take a measurement in some of the clumps. Does that count?
Who knew? I would love to see a picture of some people’s supposed yards on here
Good I am sending several in a new post
Slim
That’s pretty much how it looks here
Internet is back on here at my house. Had power but lost the internet and cable here for a few hours today. The ice is now melting but here is still a lot of ice on the trees and wires yet. While some people are reporting no snow on the ground here in my area there is still about 2″ of hard packed snow on the ground. I guess for some that it the issue of looking at GRR and using their report as there own. Hint Hint.
Slim
Both Allendale and downtown GR = also no snow on the ground
https://www.gvsu.edu/webcams.htm
Just took some pictures from my yard and I will post them on Saturdays post. And yes there is still snow on the ground in my area. Of course I do not live downtown.
Slim
Slim I don’t think we live far apart I have about 2-3 inches of snow on the ground with higher amounts in snow drifts. Ground is still covered other then where I snow blower for our dog..Friday will make 3 weeks in a row with snow covered grounds out at thee YARDofBRICKS NE GR ..I’m thinking the same few only care about snow cover during the winter season on here …INDY!
I have updated today post with new pictures.
Slim
NWS just updated the Winter weather advisory till Thursday now GR to the north more freezeing rain coming over night .Our side roads are terrible slippery if the plows don’t take care of them overnight I can see no school again tomorrow crazzy that will be number 11 now for my gals school what a winter of stormy weather we are having in West Michigan..INDY..
We are in our 10th week of Winter with 3 more to go. Of those 10, 2 weeks have been unsettled and the other 8 have been calm and quiet. 20% of stormy weather doesn’t really qualify for a Winter of stormy weather.
Ada/Cascade reporting .39 inches of freezing rain overnight. It looks the part around here with branches down, and countless more leaning over from the weight. Let’s warm-up a bit shall we?
Did anyone else have the thunderstorm last night? Lightning was so bright & vivid….
If we did, I slept through it. 😬
LOL!!!! We had a few good rumbles, but the lightning was just crazy!!!
Detroit had a lot of thundrer between power flashes and lightning last night who would of thought what was what? INDY!
Yes, nice thunderstorm here just before midnight.
I couldn’t believe it… I so worried about loss of power but then thought shoot…. it ain’t gonna happen.. keep the faith. Ended up my area was the ONLY one who lost power down in Lansing area. About 120 costumers in Eaton county and that was me…. LOL! Oh well… was short lived 5 1/2 hours and my father who lives in the city was not effected. Some times I just don’t get it 🙂
Reminds me of CNN on here today lol…Weather news consumers power saying some people may not be getting the lights back on till Saturday if that happens we could be looking at serious problems when Thursday night temps crash down to the teens with a flash freezee and temps only in the 20’s with windy snow Friday..I hope residents have a backup plan I’m sure shelters will be opening today …What a nother crazzy week of Winter around west Michigan we have on going..INDY..
Remember when many people on here and Bill’s Blog said that we’d be in for a very cold start to February? Well, it is now February 6th, and GR is +5 degrees above average for the month with no snow on the ground and more upper 40’s/50’s tomorrow.
Every mild and snowless day is one more day subtracted from Winter.
Good call Michael last fall on possible ice storms. Looks like more tonight. And great call by Slim calling for the mild and snowless Winter. What snow we have received has all been gone in a few days. And then of course the entire first half of met Winter being like an extended Fall.
It sure is strange getting ice storms in the beginning of February! Usually, we don’t see those until March or April. But that’s what happens with a 2 week winter this year.
As some would say this Winter has been not that bad but the word Winter can be many things other then snow we are feeling it this year ! One thing for sure probably the most costly Wnter in years for west Michigan the cost keeps going up like kids getting days off from school we will start hearing about all the cost soon! Short term I just took Louie our dog outside we turned around did not want to slide walk with lots of ice on the sidewalks and pavement and all of our snow on the ground is now crunchy nother crazzy Winter day here at thee YARDofBRICKS NE GR we will call it! Stay safe if your outside watch out for falling trees and braches ..INDY!
This is setting up to be a great month of winter weather! The mid and long range snow maps are a starting to ramp up again.
https://www.instantweathermaps.com/GFS-php/conussfc.php?run=2019020606&time=PER&var=ASNOWI&hour=384
Models still looking good on a possibility of a big snow event Tuesday into Wednesday next week..That below snow thought is becoming a thought of the past as we set up for a snowy pattern taking shape over the next 2-3 weeks in west Michigan..INDY!
But you said a few days ago we were getting a big snowstorm yesterday and today. What happened?
No we got a ice storm instead..Lol.. INDY!
Why don’t you give us a snow fall measurement from your area.
I’m sorry I don’t read your post most of the time but 2-3 inches of snow on the ground thank you INDY..
We have a lot more snow yet to come this winter especially later this month. Rock n roll will never die! Bring it on and the more snow the better!
whoops – forgot to add the weather history – now updated….
We lucked out over here. Mostly sleet/slush, and quite a bit of it. The branches on the trees only have a few frozen droplets.
There is a lot of ice here in the west Michigan area. I had 0.64″ of freezing rain it came down so hard that with the temperature here at 31 it more or less just puddled on the driveway and road (I think) anyway the drive way has a lot of slushy ice on it. The trees and power lines are covered. Looks like all schools are closed but not sure if that is for the ice or the power outages as it looks like about 45.000 or more are out of power this morning. The power is still on here but has flicked a few times. At this time there is just a mist falling and the temperature here is 31° the winds are calm and that should help.
Slim