Geez, it seems that 2024 just started, and now we are moving into a new year. As one ages, time speeds up, and it doesn’t seem fair. Yesterday we had 47° for a high and the low was 30° with the sunniest day we have had for quite some time. Now we will settle back into a cloudy pattern with a slow fall into the reality of a Michigan winter.
Our snowfall for 2024 was a meager 47 inches for the year (not counting today) and our rainfall was 37 inches in Otsego.
Light snow will spread north across Southern Lower Michigan this morning. Accumulations of up to 2-3 inches are possible mainly around Lansing, Battle Creek, and Jackson. The snow accumulation will mainly be on grassy areas and elevated surfaces. Some slick spots on the roads will be possible where snow rates overcome the warm roads.
Light snow will move in over Southern Lower this morning, and will continue in the evening. The heaviest amounts will be near I-69 from near Charlotte to Flint.
Low pressure tracks across the Ohio Valley today resulting in some rain and accumulating snow for SE MI. Rain will be more prevalent south of I-94 during the daytime while melting snow persists further north. Seasonably mild temperatures (mid-upper 30s) limit daytime accumulations to grassy/elevated surfaces. Total snowfall 1-3 inches; most of the accumulation occurs after sunset with slightly cooler temperatures.
Low pressure tracks across the Ohio Valley today resulting in some rain and accumulating snow for SE MI. Rain will be more prevalent south of I-94 during the daytime while melting snow persists further north. Seasonably mild temperatures (mid-upper 30s) limit daytime accumulations to grassy/elevated surfaces. Total snowfall 1-3 inches; most of the accumulation occurs after sunset with slightly cooler temperatures.
December 29 Rainfall
What an absolute all-day soaking rain it was on Sunday. If it was only 10 degrees colder, this would have been an impressive snowstorm! Just for fun, the 1 to 1.5+ inches of rain across West & Mid Michigan would have converted over to roughly 8 to 16 inches of snow
Weather History
1875: The year ends on a remarkably balmy note. At Lansing, the high temperature of 70 degrees is the highest ever recorded in December.
1976: One of the coldest Decembers on record ends with a second consecutive day of record lows across Lower Michigan. The temperature falls to 15 below zero at Muskegon, a record low for the date and for the entire month of December.
On December 31, 2015, the high temperature reached 36, 34, and 33 in Detroit, Flint, and Saginaw respectively. Although typical for December, they were chilly compared to the rest of the month. Fueled by a particularly strong El Nino and a northward displacement of the polar jet stream, the monthly average temperature for December 2015 came out to 41.1, 40.0, and 39.1 degrees, making it the warmest December on record for all SE Michigan climate sites.
Also on December 31, 1974, this marks the end of the snowiest December on record in Detroit. A total of 34.9″ of snowfall fell during the month, which is 23.8″ above average.
Forecast Discussion
- Rain/Snow Mix early then snow showers Today into Tomorrow Bottom line up front: Rain will transition to snow late this morning with a wet 1 to 3 inches possible in an area east of US 131 and along and south of I 96. Locally higher amounts possible. Snow will fall from around noon to early Wednesday with the heaviest amounts between 4 PM and midnight. minor impacts to the evening commute are possible due to brief periods of moderate snow. The much talked about low is arriving with rain showers in northern Indiana. The rain bands will shift northward as the low moves to the east. Expect light rain to continue through most of the morning before transitioning to snow late in the morning into the afternoon. As per the previous discussion, and the latest models continue to confirm, the dominant precipitation type for this event will be snow. The latest CAMS have shifted the low further south which could shift the heaviest snow bands to the south as well. However, between 4 pm Tuesday to midnight Wednesday there is well defined frontogenetic forcing along with strong winds through the low levels. 925mb winds are potentially in excess of 30kts. Given the strong forcing there remains the potential for a narrow region of heavy snow. Latest QPF is upwards of two tenths in an area from Plainwell northeast through St. Johns that includes the Lansing metro area. With a bulk of this QPF occuring through the DGZ there is a chance for a period of half an inch or more per hour snow rates 4pm to 8 pm. The biggest question is how much accumulates due to the daytime temps that should remain above freezing, and the warm road temperatures. Given these limitations and the variations of the potential snow bands have gone with a 1 to 3 inches though locally higher amounts of 2 to 4 remain possible. Synoptic snow showers will fade early Wednesday as the low moves to the east and cold air behind the front infiltrates southern Michigan. - Lake effect Snow through second half of the week Cold air from the strong northwesterly flow will advect into the region late tonight through Wednesday. 850mb temperatures as low as - 12C will be possible by midday Wednesday. That cold air coupled, with lake temperatures that remain in the 40s will allow for lake effect snow showers beginning Wednesday and continuing through Friday. The heaviest snow will occur Wednesday with a fluffy 1 to 3 inches west of US 131 possible. Heaviest amounts are expected along the US 10 corridor. A weak clipper should move through Thursday night into Friday morning which could bring another inch of lake effect, especially in and around Ludington. - Another chance for Snow early next week The before mentioned clipper will swing through Friday with cold air continuing through the weekend and into next week. Max Temps should remain in the 20s with lows into the teens through the weekend. Models diverge on the timing of another upper level low that should move through early next week. Currently the low remains south of Michigan though snow remains possible.
Snowing and colder temps to end 2024! Very appropriate for an above normal snowfall year! WOW!!!!
And its snowing again who knew …INDY
GO BLUE!!
We have about an inch of wet, sloppy snow – only on the grassy surfaces. The pavement and hard surfaces are just wet.
Rain and green grass to end 2024. Very appropriate.
Check it out!
Happy new year Mv’s best thanks for another great year on the blog I’m just happy the last 2 Summers haven’t been hot thanks mother Nature …Let it snow let it snow and go Blue….INDY
Nothing worse than a hot summer! Give me cold any day!
Snow is accumulating at my house as we speak! So much for greening up the grass lol turning it white now
What? Accumulating Snow! Who would have thought?
We were out with dogs last night and noticed Ice Pillars. What a year it has been for the skies!!!
And a geomagnetic storm watch for today/tonight. Don’t think the clouds will cooperate for us.
I know I am bummed!!! How cool would it have been to bring in New Year with Northern lights!?!
We are now still above normal for seasonal snowfall and it is snowing and more SNOW is in the forecast! What a winter! Incredible!
We are now warmer than average with below average snow for December.
The official H/L yesterday at GRR was 46/29 there was a reported 0.04” of rainfall, there was no snowfall. The highest wind was 33 MPH out of the W. there was 80% of possible sunshine. For today the average H/L is 33/21 the record high of 60 was in 1965 the coldest high of 12 was in 2017 the record low of -14 was in 1976 the warmest low of 45 was in 2010. The wettest was 0.75” that fell as 8” of snow in 1978 the most snowfall of 9.7” was in 1957 the most on the ground was… Read more »