We have had a fairly calm fall and winter this year not only in Michigan but most of the U.S. My old home state where I graduated high school back in the early 70s is currently getting pummeled with snow. I lived in the central highlands where it was usual to get 300 plus inches of snow during the winter season. In my first year there in 1972, we had four feet of snow on the ground by Thanksgiving. There is currently a winter storm warning in place for most of the state for up to 18 inches of snow.
Keep in mind Maines population is less than half that of Chicago, the road system consists of only 47000 miles compared to Michigans 120000 miles. I can’t remember a time when the city or main roads were plugged. They have blowers and large plows to take care of it.
Given most of the lower state of Michigan has not had a high temp below freezing yet this fall or early winter, and our forecast calls for highs above 32 through next weekend (bringing us to December 13), this year would be in the ranking for top 10 latest first high temp below freezing. The latest long-range models indicate the earliest likely day for below-freezing temps would be around December 18 when we may see a pattern change to a more winter-like condition. That said we went through this anticipation last year as models kept moving the cold air further into the future.
This isn’t weather related but does anyone know if Indy is ok? I usually check out the page to see the weather updates for my snow plow company, and to check out his funny comments, but haven’t
Seen him post here in awhile. Maybe it isn’t cold enough yet for him. I hope
Everything is ok.
I see today had the coldest high temperature of the season so far (31 degrees!). If it weren’t cloudy tonight we may have had one of our coldest lows as well.
I don’t mind late starts to winter as long as we get a couple of good storms later in the season.
Also I see Michael mentioned this in the comment below. I should really read comments before writing my own 🙂
We reached 32 degrees on the nose today for our coolest high temp so far this season
It also reached 32 here at my house. At this time it looks like the official high for Grand Rapids today will be 31 so this winter will not be in the top ten for the latest day of staying at or below 32 at Grand Rapids. As for snow fall Grand Rapids remains at just 0.4″ total for the season so far. Grand Rapids is still on track for have one of the latest winter seasons before getting 1″ of total snow fall. Going back to 1950 only two winter seasons have gotten this late before getting 1″ of… Read more »
We will have to see how today plays out. So far today the official high at Grand Rapids is 31 and if it stays at or below 32 for the rest of today Grand Rapids will not make a top ten for the latest first 32 day.
At this time here at my house it is 32 and cloudy and the last official reading at GRR was 31.
Slim
Just think, only 15 days until Winter begins! Just think, we will be seeing tons of snow his winter! Bring it on! The best season is about ready to rock!
Love these super short winters!!
https://days.to/until/spring
Yup, and in a couple weeks the days start to get longer. Short winters are awesome !!!
And more great news……Tuesday is our earliest sunset of the year, after that we start gaining light in the evening again!
Thanks for the info MV! We are heading into some pretty rare and hard to reach territory this Fall/Winter. No complaints here, wish it was this way every year!
I will look years that had late first days with below 32 highs and see how the winter season ended up in temperatures and total snow fall. At this time it is cloudy here and 28. It would have gotten colder last night if the skies had stayed clear. The low here at my house was 26.
Slim
We had an overnight low of 21.9 at 2:30 am, currently 30 degrees
Yesterday’s high/low was 36 and 22.