White Christmas????
As we inch closer to December 25th the age-old question always pops up. Will we have a white Christmas? Well, it is hard to say for sure. The odds here in Grand Rapids are around 60% that we will have one. Since 2000 at Grand Rapids there have been 13 years with a “white Christmas” that is at 7AM on Christmas morning there was a least 1” of snow on the ground. The most was 16” in 2000 and in 2021 and 2003 there was just the required 1” on the ground. There have been 8 years since 2000 when there was no snow on the ground and one with just a trace. Now if we are going to have a white Christmas, we will have to start getting some snow. In that time. Of the 13 years when there was snow on the ground 2001, 2004 and 2020 did not have any snow on the ground on December 10th Of the 9 years of a “green Christmas only 2019 with 1” and 2006 with 2” had snow on the ground on December 10th So based on the last 22 years if there is no snow on the ground today the odds of a white Christmas go down. Since 2000 Christmas 2001 was the only year with 8 or more inches of snow on the ground with no snow on the 10th of December. It is funny as when I started researching this I always thought if there was snow on the ground in the first two week of December there was a better chance of that snow to be gone before Christmas.
Here is a fun fact the percentage of years with a white Christmas has steadily gone down in the last 50 years. In the last 50 years the chance of a white Christmas was 63%. In the last 30 years it was 61% in the last 20 years it was down to 57%. In the last 15 years it was down to 50% in the last 10 years it was down to 36%. 3 out of the last 5 Christmases at Grand Rapids and Muskegon have been green. At Lansing it has been 4 out of the last 5 have been green.
Yesterday the official H/L was 34/28 there was 0.06” of precipitation and .6” of snow fall. There was 2% of possible sunshine and there was no snow on the ground at 7AM. The overnight low was 31 the current temperature both here in MBY and at GRR is 32 here at my house there is just a trace of snow on the ground. For today the average H/L is 38/26 the record high of 62 was recorded in 1971 and the record low of +5 was recorded in 1977. The record snow fall amount of 7.2” was in 2009.
The forecast for.
Today
A slight chance of drizzle or freezing drizzle before 7am. Cloudy, with a high near 38. East wind 6 to 9 mph.
Tonight
A chance of rain and snow showers before 11pm, then a chance of drizzle, snow showers, and freezing drizzle between 11pm and 4am, then a slight chance of drizzle or freezing drizzle after 4am. Patchy fog between 11pm and midnight. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 32. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
This week will start off dry and seasonable. A mix of precipitation will come in Wednesday, before colder temperatures move in for the end of the week with snow showers.
I just got back from California… it sure was nice to get some sun! Back to winter it seems. Good news, like Barry mentioned below, is we are gaining light in the evening now.
All green here. I have used the shovel once this season, but I’m looking forward to using the snowblower.
You may need it Wednesday Lansing msy get a decent amount snow … INDY
Matter in fact the way this pattern is setting up towrds the end of December we maybe seeing the coldest Christmas day around here in years i definitely would get more wood ready for some inside warmth … 😀 INDY
Lastest Euro modle shows a pretty decent chance of snow Wednesday it is days away but definitely the start of a more snowy and colder pattern going towards Christmas as Matt K wood tv 8 has been saying for weeks now with a heathy chance of a white Christmas not sure where all the mild air post went?? 😀 INDY
90% chance of a white Christmas and a 95% chance GR ends up with above normal seasonal snowfall! Incredible winter!
Above Average snowfall going into January is amazing over 30 inches of snow out in my hood and counting already wow to the wow .. INDY
Above in the second tier county’s away from the lake, below average in lakeshore counties. This was explained in prior posts a week or two ago. Heading into mid December looking at green grass.
Not sure about that as it reads my post I was giving current snowfall amounts in my hood at this time looks above average going into January check out Wednesday looks like we will be adding on to that more snows on the way probably winter weather advisory criteria for my hood maybe Winter storm watches close .. Im thinking December has a decent shot going above average to !! INDY
Good news….we’ve reached the earliest sunset of the year and they now start getting later each day as we swing back towards Spring and Summer!
We made a snowman… Not sure how long it will last though!!
The snow that fell yesterday is now all gone here, so it’s back to the green grass bare trees that we have had since the start of December.
Slim
Thanks Slim! A third of December gone and only 6 tenths of an inch of snow yet. Last year we were just over 3 inches by now, but you are correct in that recent Decembers are definitely lacking in the snow department.
From some early discussions last week on here no possibility looked grime and to warm for snow lovers even talk of 50’s this week?? Not seeing that at all ..Models are showing several snow chances leading up to Christmas day and im thinking white Christmas is a better bet then 50’s once predicted this week….By the way I never trust the CPC especially in Wimter ..INDY
We got about an inch. Took my bro to the Flint airport and there was no snow east of Clinton county.
Just enough snow for a light dusting here at my house. Temps look to get colder towards Christmas. Only question is can we get a system snow or some lake effect by the 25th. We shall see.
White Christmas? This year we have a 90% chance of a white Christmas! Get ready for above
normal snowfall all winter! Wow just wow!
I agree lots of snow chances on the way check out Wednesdays modles looking good for snow ..INDY
A big thanks to Slim for filling in yesterday!
Yesterday we received 3.5 inches of snow which gave us 27.5 inches since November 1st. Yesterday’s high was 35 and the low was 28.
There was less snow here in GR. I was down in SW GR yesterday during the snow fall and the SW side of town got more snow then I did here in MBY. There was what looked liked a inch on that side of town and here in my yard just a trace at best. I was more that happy filling in for you MV.
Slim