Native Americans of many tribes have a rain dance to bring forth beneficial rains to areas of drought. Native Americans in the midwestern parts of the modern United States often tracked and followed known weather patterns while offering to perform a rain dance for settlers in return for trade items. This is best documented among the Osage and Quapaw Indian tribes of Missouri and Arkansas.
A popular belief in northern Europe that shooting prevents hail caused many agricultural towns to fire cannons without ammunition. Veterans of the Seven Years’ War, Napoleonic wars, and the American Civil War reported that rain fell after every large battle. After their stories were collected in War and Weather, the United States Department of War in the late 19th century purchased $9,000 of gunpowder and explosives to detonate them in Texas. The results of the test, were inconclusive.
Not to put ideas into the snow lovers heads I wonder if this would work to induce snow into our snow starved area this winter. I am an honorary member of the Pottawatomie tribe here in Allegan county (which is a long story) and I have heard of no rituals for inducing snow from these people. I don’t think law enforcement would take kindly to firing cannons and rifles to shake up the atmosphere.
There are winter storm warnings and advisories south of the state which run from Kansas to the Virginias. The warning area is in Missouri, southern Illinois and Indiana. If you are heading south of I80 tomorrow driving will be tricky as they are expecting up to 9 inches of snow. Northern Maine has wind chill advisories for wind chills to -30°.
Temperatures overnight dipped to 14.7° in Otsego with a feels like temp of 9°. We will be in another bland weather pattern through at least next Wednesday. There are stronger hints of a more active and cold pattern shaping up by next weekend lasting through the end of the month (or longer). We will see if the guesses turn into reality, that said we will be hard pressed to make up the lost snow of the first half of winter and hopefully the pattern change won’t last into May… The CPC maps I posted yesterday have changed showing chances of below normal temps and above normal precip. after the 18th.
[columns] [span6]
[/span6][span6]
[/span6][/columns]
Heading up north to do some trapping tomorrow. Is there some snow in the north western part of the UP?
It’s funny how the warm weather fanatics don’t think it will snow this winter!
But it’s even more funny how you told us December and the start of this year we were going to be ponded by snow, yet that couldn’t be further from the truth. Incredible!
Remember 40* degrees mud and rain not so hot not so cold ! Lol! INDY!
Just another JEM Bingo….On Tap. Thanks,,, Indy and Rocky.
Hey rocky big snow storm possible next week if that’s the case Jack’s JEM model will be spot on he’s been saying that November I believe. No more 40* degrees and mudd kind of weather let’s get berry in snow …INDY!!
I am always rooting for The JEM model and berry in snow!!
It’s funny how bad your and your brother rocky are holding onto hope .. More of the same, we are on track to be BELOW normal in snowfall right through the remainder of this winter .. Facts !
It is rather humorous watching those two losing their minds over a lack of snow, resorting to attacks and name calling on a weather blog of all things. More than likely, yes, it really will snow at some point, but I highly doubt we’re going to get 50 inches in February to make up the deficit.
I will keep my snow shovel out just to jinx the rest of the winter. 🙂
Fact – real winter weather is about ready to rock!
Currently 27* degrees feels like 20* degrees out at the YARDofBRICKS nother nice winter night …INDY!
And amazingly yet another above average day. How can this be?
Cold air hitting at the end of the month. One thing to note, February will be almost be here. Winter will be over half done by then.. Enjoy the rest of this so called winter. Lol !! .. Was nice, its still light after 530 now.. Ahh yes, the sun is getting higher and higher ..
Rocky Slim MV possible snow storm next Friday let’s start tracking Yeaaaa!!! iNDY!
Why wait till next week when there’s a big storm tomorrow? And just like every other storm the past few years, you only need to drive a couple hundred miles from here to be smack in the middle of it!
Rocky would take you up on it. Since hes drives every week to Northern Lower. Lol !
Rock on and the mid and long range snow maps are ramping up big time! Let the party begin and make sure to tune up your snowblowers! I love it!
I tuned up my snow blower in October. Used it once 2 months ago, been sitting in the barn since.
27* degrees out at thee YARDofBRICKS did we even hit 30* today? Interesting from back to the 40’s at the end of the week some once said …INDY!
We are BELOW normal for snowfall and will continue to be well into February … Facts !
Just watched meteorologist Mark torregrossa weather report in the past some have sad he’s better then some of the meteorologist in Grand Rapids or he’s trusted more with forecasting his is own words today the weather party is over we are in a colder and snowy pattern especially the second half of January into February with several chances of accumulating snow coming over Michigan..Let it snow to May! INDY!
Just for the record we have had multiple major snowstorms this decade and I loved everyone of them! Incredible!
Several Blizzards before 2011 lol…Last one what comes to mind for me was February 2006 other then that not sure when we had more Blizzards? INDY ….
Never said blizzards, I said blizzard warnings. Much like other warnings, they probably ended up as a bust. But the fact remains that blizzard warnings were issued.
Just for the record we have had many major snowstorms this decade!! Get ready for a wild ride the rest of this winter! Cold and snow will rule!!!
Ground hog day 2011 was the last time this area seen a blizzard warning.
Yup, we in Florida that year. Timing is everything. 🙂
Rocky I can’t imagine why some would prefer mudd 40*degrees and cold rain kind of weather over cold and snow ….I love Michigan 4 season state..INDY!
I’ve mentioned it before, I drive several elderly people around, and the last thing they want when going out is snow and ice. Imagine being them and maybe you’d understand.
Sorry I don’t read a lot of your post! When the roads get slippery becareful…INDY!
Well that was one amazing streak! 31 days in a row, probably a once a decade occurrence, maybe even longer than that. And that was coming only several months after the 20+ day stretch we just had in August.
As for yet another snow storm bypassing us this time to the South, just seems crazy we have not had a major blizzard in 8 years now. Years ago we would have at least several blizzard warnings each Winter, now we haven’t had one in almost a decade.
Slim and MV wonderful post I can all ready feel the turn now that the warm streak is over Im sure a snow drought streak will start what next lol! When the artic air arrives next week so will snow with open lks and warm waters temps we could get berry especially in good lk effect places throw in a couple snow storms we will make up for the snow drought all the way to April possible May that would be greatttt! Have a great weekend MV’S Best ..INDY!
What? Below normal temps and above precipitation later this month? How is that possible? You mean we might actually get some real winter weather? Who would have thought? Rock n roll will never die!!
Yesterday the mean in Grand Rapids was -0.4° so the string of days of above mean average has now ended at 31 days. And guess what? there is a snowstorm but it will be to the south of us!! The low at GRR looks to have been 20 and here at my house the low was 18 that is the coldest so far this January.
Slim
Lol!! I’m going with the rounded version on the CF6 Slim! Guess we start another above average temp streak today??
At or above average temps for 31 days in a row now!! Keep on ROCKIN!!
While a snowstorm passes by to the south. Here in Michigan our snow drought will continue. Here in Grand Rapids there has not been a time in recorded history that we have had the little amount of snow fall we have had during the first 42 days of Met winter. At this time Grand Rapids has only had 1.1” of snow this January and since December 1st the total is only 4.3” that is -17.7” below where we should be. Around the state Muskegon January total 4.3” since December 1st 7.5” -30.4”. Over at Lansing it is the same January total so far 0.2” Since December 1st 1.5” -16.0” On the east side of the state Detroit just 0.2” in January and 0.7” for Met winter (-13.0”) at Flint January 0.9” for the met winter 4.7” (-11.4”) At Saginaw January 0.7” since December 1st 2.5” (-10.4”) Of course all locations had a good amount of snow in November but also all locations are below average for the season now.
UP north while there has been a snow cover there it total for the winter season is also below where they should be on January 11th here are some locations and their snow fall totals and seasonal departures. Alpena 30.3” (-3.2”) Gaylord 46.6” (-21.1”) Traverse City 23.5” (-24.2”) Petoskey 52.5” (-7.3”) in the UP their snow fall has been much heaver and in fact is near and above average for the total to date. Sault Ste Marie 63.9” (+4.2”) Marquette 96.4” (-1.9””
Slim