As we start the new season it is a good time to see just what a “average” winter is like in Grand Rapids. And a time to look at some extremes for the season. The records below are for the months of December, January and February so some records like total snow fall are less than for the whole snow season that can run from October to May.
The coldest winter was in 1903/04 when a mean temperature of 18.2° for comparison the cold winter of 2013/14 the mean for DJF that winter was 20.1° The warmest winter so far was the winter of 19.1/32 with a mean of 33.9° for comparison the winter of 2016/17 even after the warmest December of record was 31.5° Last winter the mean temperature was 30.4°. The snowiest winter (DJF) was 105.6” in 2013/14 the least amount of snow for a winter (DJF) was 13.4” in 1943/44 the total for the season that year was 35.7” for comparison in more recent winters the winters of 2011/12 GRR had 51.2” and the past two winters had 60.1 last year and 61.1” the year before. As for total precipitation the wettest DJF was 13.58” in 1897/88. The reported snow fall for that winter is suspect as only 53.5” was recorded for the total of DJF BUT there was as much as 16” reported on the ground. The temperature profiles for that winter would support a much higher snow fall total. Anyway the driest DJF was 2.08” of total precipitation in the winter months of 1986/87 the reported snow fall for DJF that winter was 32.2”
As we also start a new month as well as a new season lest take a look at some December information.
December averages and some records.
December starts out with an average H/L if 40/28 and ends with an average H/L of 32/20.
The mean average for the month is 29.2° the warmest December was 39.1° in 2015. The coldest mean is 17.1° in 1989.
The record high for December is 69° recorded on December 5th 2001 the coldest maximum was +5° on December 21st 1989’
The record low was -18° on December 19th 1983. The warmest minimum was 56° on December 2nd 1982.
The most snow for 1 day is 15.1” on December 12th 2000. The most snow for the month is 59.2” in 2000, The least amount of snow fall for a December is 0.6” in 1894. More recently December of 2014 Grand Rapids only had 1.0” of snow fall with 0.7” of that falling on the last day.
Last year December was a rather cold and snowy month with a mean temperature of 27.5° (-1.7°) and 37” of snow fall. Of course the rest of last winter was mild and we seen very little snow fall.
Now its time to see how both December and the winter of 2017/18 plays out.
Slim
We welcome Winter time in Michigan .. good times ahead folks cold and snow READY … INDYDOG!!
Keep up the good work INDY! I am READY to ROCK n ROLL! We could be seeing record snowfall this year!
DDDDD ROCKY let it snow let I snow Yeaaaaa! INDYDOG
The latest long term discussion from NWS GR says snow with be limited to lake effect through next weekend. I’m hoping some of the bands reach this far inland.
Climatology for today December 2nd At Grand Rapids, MI The average H/L 30 year average 39/28° the 120 average 38/25.5° The record high is 67° set in 1982 the coldest maximum is 18 set in 1966 The record low is -11° set in 1976 the warmest minimum was 56° set in 1982 The most pricip. Was 1.48” set in 1982 The largest snow fall was 4.8” in 1985 the most on the ground for this date was 12” in 1940 Last year the H/L was 39/35° and there was a trace of precip reported’ The current Temperature here at my… Read more »
Lows in the teens and highs in the 20’s with SNOW! Who would have thought?
Did you say winter? Did say SNOW? I say bring it on and we are about ready to turn the corner! Get ready to Rock n Roll!
http://www.instantweathermaps.com/GFS-php/showmap-conussfc.php?run=2017120206&time=PER&var=ASNOWI&hour=384