Looking across most of the U.S. the weather patterns have been fairly stagnant as of late however there is a hint of the ‘s’ word in the short term forecast. The only snow we have in Otsego is at Bittersweet which has been making snow during the cold nights and has remained open.
We will see our clouds increase today with rain developing late tonight on through Thursday before it mixes and changes to snow tomorrow night. Maybe a trace to around an inch on the ground by Friday night. We may see a shot of lake effect snow across the western counties on Sunday which will wind down on Christmas Eve – I will have a better idea on this in tomorrows winter update post.
Even though CPC maps show above normal temps this does not mean we will not see snow especially this time of year on through January. The maps are percentages of above or below normal and the orange does not mean it is a blow torch. With predicted above normal precipitation over the next couple weeks we could see an interesting weather pattern shaping up, again more on this tomorrow.
Weather History
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.
December 22
1957: Balmy weather prevails with highs in the mid 50s. Muskegon sets a record high of 55 degrees.
2000: A long siege of arctic air and lake effect snow continues across Lower Michigan. The high temperature at Lansing is only 9 degrees with lake effect snow showers swirling. It will be the coldest December of the 20th century at Lansing.
Where’s the snow? Looks like the snow lovers will have to wait 3 more weeks when it looks like the warm pattern will finally give way for a bit. Until then, enjoy the warmth! Love these short winters
Who would have ever thought that two thirds of the way through December we’d be sitting at just over an inch of snow total for the month? Can’t wait for Slim to start cranking out stats on where we stand all time. Has to be top 5 or so for least amount of snow.
At this time Grand Rapids is in 2nd place and has a good chance of a top 10 for least amount of snow fall for any December at Grand Rapids
Slim
If we make the top 10, that’s twice in 4 years! Impressive record, especially considering December is our main lake effect snow months.
I am back in west Michigan at at this time it is party cloudy and a temperature of 35° As of today the total snow fall here at Grand Rapids for December is only 1.9″ Grand Rapids is on track for one of its least snowy Decembers in recorded history. The least amount of snow fall for any December was 1.0″ in 2014. in 10 place in 5.1″ in 1902 the most is 59.2″ in 2000 the average December snow fall is 21.1″ Here are is some information on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The average H/L on the 24th… Read more »
Welcome back, Slim!