Just to show how warm this winter has been on Thursday I was walking around the yard and what did I see?? Several daffodils coming up. Not just a little but over 2″ high.
We have been in a very cloudy period for some time now. But then again clouds are nothing new for the Great Lakes area. Last Tuesday MV had a chart of larger cities and how cloudy they are. While the chart lumped together cloudy and partly cloudy days together, I have a chart (written in a book, remember them?) for several locations here in Michigan. Here are the number of cloudy, partly cloudy and clear days at several locations in Michigan between 1961 to 1990. Alpena 193 cloudy, 105 partly cloudy and 67 clear. At Detroit Metro 183 cloudy, 105 partly cloudy and 77 clear. At Detroit city 177 cloudy, 108 partly cloudy and 80 clear. Flint 194 cloudy, 105 partly cloudy and 66 clear. GRAND RAPIDS 204 cloudy, 95 partly cloudy and 65 clear. Lansing 189 cloudy, 104 partly cloudy and 72 clear. At Muskegon 200 cloudy, 88 partly cloudy and 77 clear. The sunniest location is the chart is Escanaba with 155 cloudy days, 108 partly cloudy days and 102 clear days. Marquette 203 cloudy days, 101 partly cloudy days and 61 clear days. And Sault Ste Marie has 208 cloudy days, 91 partly cloudy days and 66 clear days.
Of course tomorrow is Ground Hog Day but this year instead of will there be 6 more weeks of winter the question will be will we have any winter at all. Well truth be told it has been winter here since mid November So no matter what some will try and tell you about a “short” winter the winter season will be a long one it is just a matter of how long it will drag on into spring.
With it now February it is time to look at some weather averages for February. The average H/L starts out at 31/18 on the 1st and is up to 38/22 by the 28th and this year it is at 38/23 by the 29th. The record high for the month is 69 set on Feb 11, 1999 and the record low is -24 on the 13th and 14th 1899. The mean average for the month is 24.5° here are the top 5 warmest in recorded history at Grand Rapids.
- 34.7 in 2017
- 34.1 in 1998
- 34.0 in 1984
- 32.9 in 1930
- 32.6 in 1954
Coldest
- 13.3 in 2015
- 14.3 in 1978
- 14.6 in 1904
- 19.9 in 1934
- 19.9 in 1899
Snow, the most
- 41.6″ in 2008
- 38.2 in 2011
- 35.5 in 1900
- 33.6 in 2007
- 33.1 in 2013
The least snow fall
- 0.5″ in 1998
- 0.9 in 1987
- 1.6 in 1984
- 2.4 in 2017
- 2.4 in 1907
The biggest one day snow storm is 11.3″ on February 3, 2007. The biggest 2 day storm is 17.2″ on February 1 and 2 2011 the so called Ground Hog storm.
Slim
Winter started in early November, so definitely a long winter this year!
Great post Slim. Yesterday I noticed my daffodils are up too. I bet my tulips will bloom early this year. Time will tell. Meanwhile I am enjoying the winter and so grateful for the roads not being snow covered or icy. I hope everyone enjoys the sunshine tomorrow. 🙂
Report from SNOW country>>>>>>>Winter is in full force! Plenty of snow and the outdoor winter sports are in great shape! I went cross country skiing and downhill skiing! Both incredible! I also saw plenty of snowmobiles running! It is a different world up here and just fantastic! Keep winter rocking for 2 more months! Speaking of rocking….rock n roll will never die!
Hey, it’s snowing! I hope motorists remember how to drive in this type of weather.
Thinking about getting the grill out tomorrow for Superbowl we will see how warm it gets …That probably maybe a first in while …INDY
Great Idea INDY!! Steaks, Brats & Sprites for Super Bowl!
No big cold for at least the next 10 days!
https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/7f39432f98eef2d300f773cf914253d5f248e7131cb69cb63b087ebda662f574
This is the best kind of snow!! Looks nice falling and melts as soon as it hits the warm ground!
Hmmm WGN Chicago 8 day forcasting shows highs only in the mid 20’s one would imagine cold there cold here right?? INDY
The last month of winter and it’s starting incredibly mild. I love short winters! Did we even have a winter this year?
January wrap…The mean temperature at Grand Rapids was 31.3° that is a departure of +6.9° the high for the month was 49 on the 9th and 10th the low for the month was +11 on the 20th that is the warmest lowest temperature at Grand Rapids since January 2006 when the low for the month was 17. There was officially 11.5” of snow fall with the most in one day of 6.3” on the 18th there was a two day storm total of 8.8” on the 18th and 19th most on the ground was 6” on the ground from the… Read more »
Currently 30* degrees with snow falling out at thee YARDofBRICKS NE of GR another beautiful Winter day …INDY
It snowing here as well but it is not staying with the temperature here at 33
Slim
Reminds me of last summer every 3rd day we had rain and clouds keeping the heat down this winter the clouds keeping the temps from falling almost like a warm blanket over us weird year of weather thats for sure lots of stormy Weather…Get ready for a stormy February the snow is going to start pilling up in places on about the 5th we will be on the northend of the dividing line get shovels ready have a super Saturday …INDY
What an unbelievable warm and snowfree pattern we are in!!! All the teleconnectors show there is no change in sight!! Who wouldn’t love warm weather all thru winter???
Our neighbors snowdrop plants have all come up now! They are at least a few inches tall each. Never seen them pop out this much, this early. Just shows how incredibly WARM and Snowfree this year has been!! Love these short winters!!! Keep it ROCKIN!
I for one do not believe how GR measures sunshine. There’s a reason why so few NWS offices measure this. It’s entirely subjective and full of dispute how to properly measure it. Just look at yesterday. It was bright for several hours and yet GR says the sun was only out for 37 minutes.
The sun did not “shine” here yesterday, it was just just came thru thin clouds.
Slim
Exactly my point. Is slightly filtered sunshine not sunshine? It certainly was a much brighter day than the 37 minutes of “sun” that will go down in the books.
Check out the latest!
https://www.instantweathermaps.com/GFS-php/conussfc.php?run=2020020106&time=PER&var=ASNOWI&hour=384
I am loving the snow trend for next week and beyond! Get ready for a return to winter! Winter is the best! Skiing should be incredible today!
With January now officially recorded as another well below average month for snow, the question looms do we make it a clean sweep this season with every month ending up below normal? So far October, November, December, and January have all come in well below, and it looks like February will be well on the way as well going by the outlooks/forecasts.
I looked the other day when you mentioned there were daffodils coming up, and sure enough there are. Has to be the earliest I can ever remember seeing them popping out as well. As for the cloudy days, wow, GR at 200+? That sounds/is terrible! Nice work Slim!
I used to write daily data in a book and calendar back in the 70s, 80s and early 90s before I got my first computer – wish I still had them. Having moved around the state and country they became lost. Some became lost in a rollover car crash I had in the 70s. Couldn’t do a backup of paper records back then like we can on computers.
Temp in 31.5 this morning…