I live halfway between Otsego and Bittersweet. At night Bittersweet puts out about the same amount of light as Otsego. Bittersweet has been busy since Christmas with mostly manmade snow. They are reporting a two foot base with 19 runs and 12 lifts open today. They will be helped out in the snow department later today and tonight with a couple more inches of the white stuff from mother nature.
We have a winter weather advisory for Ottawa, Allegan and Van Buren counties from 3 pm this afternoon until 4 am tomorrow morning. I suspect more counties may be added to the advisory later today which may include Kent, Kalamazoo and Barry. This will be a lake effect event while not an overpowering amount of snow it will create slippery conditions for the evening commute. This should put Otsego over the one-foot mark for snowfall totals this winter. We are at 10.4 inches now with the snow we had yesterday.
From this mornings NWS discussion:
--Lake effect flare up this afternoon and evening-- We are issuing a Winter Weather Advisory for Ottawa, Allegan, and Van Buren Counties from 3 PM this afternoon through 4 AM tonight. A potent shortwave dropping southeast from MN later today brings a period of deeper moisture/lift that should significantly enhance the westerly flow lake effect over the sw corner of Lwr MI, squarely during the evening commute time. Total accumulations this afternoon and evening in the advisory area expected to be roughly 2-4". Intensity of some of the snow showers with sfc temps in the mid to upper 20s will likely create some travel impacts due to reduced visibilities and slick roads. One concern we have is that some of the more intense snow bands later today could extend well inland, possibly impacting srn Kent, Barry and Kalamazoo Counties. If HiRes model updates trend more in this direction we may have to add a few counties to the advisory. RAP and NAM3km fcst soundings at South Haven are fairly impressive, especially between 21Z and 03Z, showing no inversion aloft, deep moisture and omega to 15K ft, and a pretty good looking DGZ/Omega "crosshairs" signature. Snow showers diminish overnight after shortwave pulls away, but some NW flow L.E.S. may persist near and west of Hwy 131 with some additional light accums.
What happened to the Polar Vortex this week? No single digit lows in the forecast here. Is this winter a sign of things to come (new norm) or an anomaly?
Great news! 59 more official days of winter and plenty of chances for tons of cold and snow! Bring it on!
Days are getting longer now, average temps start rising soon, spring right around the corner!
https://days.to/until/spring
Let it SNOW!!!!!
Now getting a steady light snow fall. The current temperature is 29 so some is now staying on the driveway and road.
Slim
Had a fantastic time at Gun Lake casino today even was able to drive home in some snow falling made it even better such a great Winter day ….INDY
I understand some of the casinos have gone smoke-free due to COVID. Just wondering if Gun Lake did that, and if you noticed a difference? Hope you made some $$ or at least broke even. 🙂
With all of the smoke I hate going into a casino.
Slim
As of now it’s smoke free in the casino they have designated areas around the casino for smoking outside …You still can smell it on people though lol…yuck ..INDY
Yo INDY! I would love to go sometime during the NCAA Tourney to watch the games in the sports book at the Casino!
As a former smoker, I will not judge those whom still smoke. But, I despise that smell nowadays. Even when I am sitting at a red light and I smell it from someone else in different car, it nauseates me.
I am considering another trip up north for some fantastic skiing! I am very happy to follow covid 19 protocols and help out the MI economy at the same time! Who knew?
Snow country is looking great!
Good for them up there. But, I am sure Governor Whitmer would strongly advise against traveling north hundreds of miles during a pandemic to do something as frivolous as skiing.
For those looking for good winter conditions for virtually all outdoor winter sports, just head up to snow country! Winter is in full force with downhill and cross country skiing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and ice skating all looking great! Combine that with more cold and snow in the forecast you will have absolutely incredible conditions!
Traveling around and staying in hotels or resorts in the midst of a pandemic, no thanks.
Please stay home. Last I saw, TC was encouraging tourists to do the same.
Tomorrow, Biden will ask us all to do our part and mask-up for 100 more days.
If Trump would have actually taken the pandemic seriously and done his job the pandemic would be well under control by now! Oh and by the way you will need to wear a mask for more than 100 more days!
You are IDIOT!
I have been wearing a mask and socially distancing for the last 10 months! Get real!
On top of ignoring the Covid protocols, Rocky is doing tremendous harm to the environment by traveling hundreds and hundreds of miles every weekend in his car! Sorry, I would rather stay home, stay safe, protect the environment, and stay healthy!
It’s funny how the most liberal people can damage the environment the most. Like the celebrities with their own private jets or Rocky constantly driving hundreds of miles in search of snow during a pandemic.
It’s completely reckless!!
Lol
Baaaaahhhhhh What a SHEEP you are ROCKLESS
Rocky is just following his heroes!
https://www.sacbee.com/latest-news/vqh2p9/picture247270659/alternates/FREE_768/Screenshot%20of%20Newsom%20dinner%20tweet
You mean ZERO’s not Heros.
Bingo Jack!! LOL!!
Petoskey is now almost 40″ below average snow, TC is 43.5″ below average, and Gaylord is 41.4″ below average.
The snow drought continues for Northern Michigan too.
Officially 0.2″ of new snow fell in Grand Rapids yesterday. That now gives grand Rapids a total of 2.7″ for January and for the season Grand Rapids is now at 8.0″ At this time it is cloudy here with a temperature of 26. There is a trace of snow on the ground. That includes some of the snow that fell late yesterday and the old snow piles that have hung on since the heavy wet snow that fell in late December.
Slim
More great news….some of the NW Lower MI snow belts will be seeing another 4 to 8 inches of snow! The great conditions up there will only get better! Who would have thought?