Yesterday’s high was 39° and the low was 29°, we had 1.1 inches of snow which brings us to 24.5 inches since late November.
West winds gusting to 25 mph today will create wind chills in the teens. Another round of lake-effect snow is in store for late tonight and Friday. Localized 1-4 inches accumulations are anticipated, mainly near and west of US 131.
Lake effect snow will perk up again late Thursday night and continue Friday. Localized 1-4″ accumulations are expected near and west of Highway 131.
Lake effect snow continues into Friday with better chances for accumulating snow over northern lower. Please use caution when traveling as localized heavier snowfall will lead to rapidly changing roadway conditions when driving in and out of heavier bands.
December Summary
While December averaged out to be a little warmer than normal, there were three distinct spells of cold and snow during the month, followed by warmups. Much of the snow was lake-effect, supplied from Lake Michigan, with totals just shy of normal. A soaking rain late in the month boosted total precipitation content above average. Grand Rapids recorded 17 percent of possible sunshine, which is below average even for a typically cloudy month. On December 4, with a sharp cold front, a snow squall brought lightning and 40 to 60 mph winds.
Weather History
1876: Record highs are set for the third day in a row at Lansing and Detroit as the temperature reaches 62 degrees at both locations.
1999: A powerful winter storm gets underway with heavy snow and high winds shutting down travel for the next several days.
On January 2, 1999, a blizzard hit southeast Michigan and continued into the early morning hours of the 3rd. Detroit Metro Airport received 11.3 inches, Flint had 8.5 inches and Tri Cities Airport in Freeland received 13.2 inches. Between 10 and 15 inches of snow fell over many areas south of M-59, and between 5 to 13 inches across the Saginaw Valley and Thumb regions.
Forecast Discussion
- Periods of moderate lake effect through Saturday Light snow will continue this morning with only light accumulations expected due to the winds being primarily out of the west. Winds will shift to a more northwesterly flow late tonight through Friday. This will bring colder over the lakes. Expect 850mb temps to be around -19C Friday night. That cold air will move over Lake Michigan with water temps of +6 C. That 25 degree temp differential will be more than enough to bring moisture to couple with the strong northwesterly flow to cause moderate snow showers Friday into Saturday. While some snow bands could extend into the central part of Michigan the primary focus of snow will be along and west of the US 131 corridor. Areas that receive the strongest bands could see 1 to 3 inches with locally higher amounts possible. - Falling Temperatures into next week The before mentioned cold air being advected into the region will drop temperatures Friday and into next week. Highs will drop into the 20s with lows into the teens. A weather system that had been previously discussed to move near the Great Lakes early next week continues to trend southward. If that trend continues it will miss Michigan entirely. While that will limit snow to lake effect, it will also allow even colder air into the Southern Michigan mid to late next week.
Let it snow let it snow….let’s goo let’s gooo! INDY
Overachiever WWA coming up this is just the start of a above average snowfall Month lets goo lets goo! INDY
What a winter and some people are saying very little snow for us in January! How wrong can they be? Absolutely incredible!
The WWA’s just keep coming! Wow!!!
This one is only for what is in the forecast of less than one inch not a WWA worthy event in my book.
Slim
The one a week or so ago when it was 36 degrees amounted to some mist and light drizzle. Makes no sense.
It is crazy that we are above normal for Seasonal snowfall, and some people are saying it is a quiet winter! Facts people! Incredible! We are well on our way to hit the 80-90 inches of snow that the RDB model predicted long ago! Wow! Who would have thought?
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO 7 PM EST FRIDAY…
* WHAT…Snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 1 and 4
inches. Locally higher amounts possible in lake effect bands.
* WHERE…Portions of southwest and west central Michigan.
* WHEN…From 4 AM to 7 PM EST Friday.
Mason-Lake-Oceana-Newaygo-Muskegon-Ottawa-Kent-Allegan-Barry-Van
Buren-Kalamazoo-
Not sure why all of Kent county is in a WWA. For most of the county the forecast is for less than one inch. I must be missing something here.
Slim
It’s too bad they can’t do winter weather advisories and warnings like they do thunderstorm warnings.
Interesting we are above normal in seasonal snowfall. Quite a surprise to some! Who knew?
First WWA of 2025! Great start to the new year!
Interesting December stats above with the month being above average in temps and below average in snowfall. Must be quite a surprise to some.
Ready for the inland lakes to start freezing over ice fishing is going to be fun soon …. Its the most wonderful time of the year…Winter …INDY
They were frozen, but that major thaw and rain melted all the ice.
No big synoptic snows, just lake effect. Dry and boring and cold.
That looks to be the case for most if not all of January. The next big storm system will be to our north and give us rain.
Slim
Do we see one big snowstorm this winter? It’s crazy how quiet it has been…
Just one clipper, which isn’t a snowstorm. All lake effect otherwise.
No that is wrong! We see multiple events!
Yup, take a look at the drought map. https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?MI
It’s crazy to think of moderate and severe droughts in Michigan in the winter!
GRR’s official H/L yesterday was 35/28 there was 0.16” of precipitation that fell as 2.7” of snowfall. There was 2” on the ground at 7AM. The highest wind was 33MPH out of the W. There was no sunshine. For today the average H/L is 32/21 the record high of 59 was in 2004 the coldest high of 8 was in 1920 the record low of -2 was in 2001 the warmest low of 52 was in 1897. The most rainfall of 1.35”fell in 1897. The most snowfall of 6.4” was in 1999 the most on the ground was 12” in… Read more »