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March & Meteorological Spring

Last week we looked how leap day unfolded in years past. With today being leap day and the last day of February it is now time to look and see what can be expected for not only March but the meteorological spring as well.

March

Over the 31 days of March Grand Rapids gains about 1 hour and 28 minutes. The average High/Low starts out at 38/23 and ends the month at 51/32. The record high for March at GR is 87° on the 21st in 2012 the coldest low is -13 on March 8th 1943. The average mean is 35.6 the warmest mean is 50.7° in 2012 and the coldest mean is 23.9 in 1960. The average snow fall is around 8.3” the most is 36.0” set in 1965 the least 0” set in 2011.  Here are some March top 5.

Warmest

  1. 50.7° in 2012
  2. 45.9° in 1945
  3. 45.0° in 1910
  4. 44.11° in 1946
  5. 42.1° in 2000

Coldest

  1. 23.9° in 1960
  2. 25.0° in 1912
  3. 26.1° in 1965
  4. 26.6° in 2014
  5. 26.7° in 1900

Last year the mean for March was 32.2° and that is -3.4

Snowiest

  1. 36.0” in 1965
  2. 25.9” in 1971
  3. 25.3” in 1932
  4. 22.6” in 2002
  5. 21.9” in 1954

Least snow fall

  1. 0.0″ in 1910
  2. T     in 1945
  3. 0.2″ in 1908
  4. 0.4″ in 2009
  5. 0.6″ in 2000

Last year 7.9” of snow fell.

Meteorological Spring

Late spring, summer and early fall are my favorite weather time of the year here in Michigan. I think Michigan is one of the best locations to be in the summer (but more on that just before summer get here)  here are some records and averages for meteorological spring (March thru May)

The current 30 year average is 47.7° the warmest is 54.1° in 2012 The 2nd warmest was 52.6 in 1977. The coldest spring was in 1890 with a mean of 41.7° Last year it was 45.6° so yes last year GR had a cool spring. On average Grand Rapids receives 10.1” of snow the most fell in 1965 when 41.4” fell that spring (101.4” fell that winter season) The least spring snow fall is a trace in 1945. Last year 12.9” fell. The wettest spring was in 1976 when 16.37” of rain and snow fall and the driest was in 1887 when only 3.54” was reported the current 30 year average is 9.70” Last year 12.24” fell. I have found a site that has the weather records for many locations in the United States. This site includes many smaller locations. In the site there are two locations for Holland, MI one at the Tulip City Airport  and another that must be in the city somewhere. The site at the airport don’t keep snow fall records but the one for the city had the 30 year average. And for Holland it is much less than one would think. There the seasonal average from 1980 to 2010 for total snow fall is 69.9” I will post some numbers from around the state from time to time.

This past week we had a good example of how weather systems do not go to computer model plans.  As has been stated we put too much faith into our computer technology (not just if weather forecasting) In weather forecasting just like in many other news and life events there are too many who think that they can predict down to the minute and mile when something is going to happen or in some cases not happen. Now that I have stated that I am still waiting on how todays technology would handle a major weather event (and get it right) not the every day events but the ones that truly are out of the ordinary. Like the 1978 storm the 1956 tornado or even the 1998 derecho. At this time my confidence is very low that the models could.

Slim

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Andy W
Andy W

Farewell winter! Thank you for not being as sucky as usual! Glad old man winter is heading home early! Let’s get Spring Rocking!!

INDY
INDY

Currently 30* degrees out at the YARDofBRICKS Northview still waiting on the warmth Weather … the sun is very nice outside berry probably has his air conditioning running if not today tomorrow for sure lol….INDY

Rocky (Rockford)
Rocky (Rockford)

No doubt berry will definitely have his ac running next week!

Andy W
Andy W

What a great winter! A foot and a half below normal on snowfall and warmer than normal every month!! Despite Rocky’s wishcasting for the polar vortex and weekly blizzards, our snow deficit keeps getting more and more negative each month!! Looks like we are going to fall WELL BELOW all the cold weather collusionists predictions for snowfall this winter!!! INCREDIBLE!! WELCOME SPRING!!

Rocky (Rockford)
Rocky (Rockford)

Meanwhile it is off to the slopes for yet another great ski weekend! Incredible!

Andy W
Andy W

Enjoy your last day of winter! So glad it’s over!

INDY
INDY

18* degrees out at thee YARDOFBRICKS Northview cool start for the first day of March lol…..Dress Warm have a nice saturday ….INDY.

Barry in Zeeland
Barry in Zeeland

Only problem iwould be that it’s February yet, not March. Try again tomorrow.

INDY
INDY

Well just like the
amounts of precipitation say 89 is 90 and all the snow blowing miles Inland plus getting skunked again again and again…What’s 13 hours?? …Not going to make a whole of a hell of difference now is it Happy March …Lol…INDY

Barry in Zeeland
Barry in Zeeland

Well we will see what tomorrow brings for March 1. Something tells me it will not be cold and snow, except of course at your place.

Rocky (Rockford)
Rocky (Rockford)

What a cold wintry week it was this past week! Low temps and wind chills in the single digits and teens! Wow! Conditions are incredible up in Snow country! Get outside and enjoy!

INDY
INDY

February was a cold and snowy month I enjoyed it let’s see how cold and snowy March will be ….INDY..

Rocky (Rockford)
Rocky (Rockford)

How is that possible? Especially with the constant warm weather hype! Above normal snowfall in February! It is a beautiful thing! Let’s see one or two more snowstorms this year!

Mookie
Mookie

That CPC looks like a March blowtorch!

Barry in Zeeland
Barry in Zeeland

Last day of Winter and it ends like much of it has been, no snow on the ground. Couldn’t write a better Winter with temps well above average every month, way below average snow, and not a single big storm. Unless you count the storm Not which did have a significant amount of rain fall. Back to back Met Winters with below normal snowfall, let’s go for a three peat next year!

Barry in Zeeland
Barry in Zeeland

Good read Slim! I look forward to info from your new site and how the data compares to larger weather stations!