Michigan Wx Michigan Wx

Weather History Day – Placid Weather Coming

Posted on by MichaelV (Otsego)

We have 21° and 2.5 inches of snow on the ground at 5am this morning – feels like temp is 15° – our total snowfall since November is 10 inches in Otsego.  The photo taken yesterday at Walgreens on M89 – (photo by JD Chamberlain) shows bone chilling premonition of the winter to come 😳

Our winter weather advisory expires at noon and the lakeshore flood advisory at 4pm.  At this time it appears we are entering a quiet period through Christmas day, by this weekend we will return to the 40s and all the snow we have gotten will be gone.

Weather History

December 15

1971: For the second time in 5 days, record high temperatures are followed by record rains. The temperature hits 60 at Grand Rapids and 64 degrees at Lansing followed by about 2 inches of rain.

1987: A winter storm drops from 8 to 12 inches of snow from Grand Haven to Ludington. Muskegon sets a daily snowfall record of 12.1 inches of snow.

December 16

1984: Mild weather prevails with record highs of 61 degrees at Lansing and Grand Rapids.

1989: Persistent cold weather continues during of the coldest Decembers on record in Lower Michigan. A record low of 2 below zero is recorded at Grand Rapids while another 5 inches of snow piles up at Muskegon, contributing to a monthly total of 77 inches there.

December 17

1963: Lake effect snow buries Muskegon with a three day total of 34 inches of snow from the 16th to the 18th. This will be the snowiest December in Muskegon history with a grand total of 82.6 inches for the month.

December 18

1884: Temperatures plunge well below zero during a three day cold wave. Lansing records an all time December low of 25 below zero.

1939: Mild weather continues for the second consecutive day with highs in the 50s and overnight lows remaining above freezing

December 19

1929: Cold and snowy weather prevails with high temperatures only around 10 degrees and heavy lake effect snow. Ten inches of snow falls at Grand Rapids on this date, with a three day total of almost 20 inches from the 18th to the 20th.

1983: A massive area of arctic high pressure dominates the weather across much of North America during an historic cold wave. Grand Rapids falls to 18 degrees below zero, setting their all-time December record low.

2008: A record 10.2 inches of snow fell at Grand Rapids during one of the snowiest months on record in southwest Lower Michigan. Some of the impressive monthly snow totals are: 88.7 inches at Hart in Oceana County, 68.6 inches at Muskegon and 54.6 inches at Grand Rapids. 2008 is also the snowiest calendar year on record at Hart, with over 200 inches and at Grand Rapids with 140.7 inches for the year.

December 20

1923: A long stretch of balmy December weather continues with highs reaching the lower 50s. The low temperature for the entire month at Grand Rapids is only 18 degrees and no day has a high temperature below freezing. It is the warmest December on record for many locations, including Grand Rapids and Muskegon.

1951: Grand Rapids receives seven inches of snow during one of the snowiest months on record, with a monthly total of more than 50 inches of snow.

December 21

1967: Temperatures soared to record highs around 60 degrees across Lower Michigan on the winter solstice. A sharp cold front came through in the evening and was followed by 2 to 4 inches of snow on the following day.

1989: It is one of the coldest December days in history across Lower Michigan. The high temperature at Muskegon and Grand Rapids is only 5 above zero, the lowest maximum temperature ever recorded in the month of December at both sites.

Your Local Forecast

Category: Michigan Weather Forecast, Winter weather advisory

40 thoughts on “Weather History Day – Placid Weather Coming”

  1. The wind sure was blustery today and added to the cold we had. Traveling around on M6 and I96 the wind was really hard to drive in it. The truckers had a hard time you could tell holding their trucks where they belonged. It’s too bad though that this snow doesn’t stick around for Christmas. I know all the people traveling though will be grateful for the dry roads.

  2. Cannot wait for a week of 40s.. Even on Christmas week.. I thought it was suppose to be white ..Lol !!! Common you winter spinners, lets hear it.. Lol !!!

    1. I was going to just post this but since you asked for winter spinners well the temperature here at my house is now down to a cold +7° But it looks like there will be more than a week of not only warm temperatures but dry as well. In fact there is a chance we could reach 50 next week.
      Slim

  5. i GOT A GOOD 5″ OF SNOW. They even plowed us. My dog and I were out last night about 11PM when it was snowing pretty good and he was loving it. I am more in a snow belt than Barry. My daughter who is about 5 minutes from me got even more.

    2. Please get out of our state! The most corrupt administration in history? How many felonies has Trump committed so far? Disgraceful!

  7. I believe I will go on a vacation for a week check back in around Christmas when the temps get back to below freezing maybe a vacation to Zland Michigan where it’s hot and the sun’s out 24 -7 and never no precipitation whoo whoo I will pick you up my delusional twin Rocky lol..INDY

    2. You’re welcome here any time. Stop by work, I take over April 1. I assume in person you are not the fool you act on here.

      2. Let me get this straight you are buying the company that you work for? This is the same company that you complain about all of the time about how hot and unbearable it is? My question to you is this. Will you be investing in an air conditioning system for your workers? If not you have no business running this company!

  8. You know we’re in a snow drought when the delusional snow twins are losing their minds over an inch or two of snow. Wow.

    1. It’s fascinating how excited the snow twins are over barely more than a dusting… I’m imagining them both snowshoeing together like it’s the frozen tundra while a runner in Nikes passes them on the trail.

    1. Lol… According to some on here 50’s happen every December so that’s nothing new …Get ready for January​ you will be on vacation again mark it down…INDY

  11. We are currently below normal for the December temps and 9 out of the last 11 months we have seen below normal temps! This is quite a cool pattern!

  12. The snow plows were out in full force today! A very wintry scene! The cold and snow just keeps coming!

  13. 16 inches of berry snow now for the season out at thee YARDofBRICKS after last night’s 3 inches only 91 inches to go from my 107 …Stay warm Have a nice Wednesday …INDY

    1. Yes we are having a good start to winter and wait till January, Feb and March! It will be a wild ride! Bring it on!

        2. And somehow you always have the highest snow totals in the state. Interesting. Can’t argue cold hard facts. Check my pic below from this morning.

  14. Here at my house 2″ of fluffy lake effect snow fell last night. With partly cloudy skies the temperature here is 15°
    Slim

  15. Meanwhile, it is summer in Australia. They had their hottest temperature ever yesterday. The average maximum temperature for the entire country was 105.6 Fahrenheit – beating the previous record that was set just six years ago.

  16. Only about a 1/2” here. Not quite enough to cover the grass. I have only needed to shovel once this season.

  17. About an inch and a half of snow here, not much to get excited about. Last night the snow had already stopped by 11 oclock. Not even enough to plow the parking lot at work.

  18. Another day with below normal temps and fresh snow cover! Another great day for snowshoeing! Incredible!

Comments are closed.