We will see our first accumulating snow of the season here in southwest lower Michigan later today. There is a winter weather advisory (the areas in blue) beginning at 4pm today going through 4pm tomorrow for Mason-Lake-Oceana-Muskegon-Ottawa-Allegan-Van Buren-Kalamazoo counties.
Snow showers are expected to increase later this afternoon and more so this evening. The snow showers will then persist through much of Thursday. They could be locally heavy at times. The heaviest snow will occur over Allegan and Van Buren County. Plan on slippery road conditions, especially during the morning commute on Thursday. Total snow accumulations of 2 to 5 inches with locally higher amounts are expected mainly west of 131.
The lake effect snow warning continues for Antrim, Otsego and Kalkaska Counties in northern Michigan with total snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches, with localized amounts up to 11 inches, are expected. Keweenaw and Northern Houghton Counties in the U.P continue with there winter storm warning today Additional snow accumulations of 4 to 7 inches are expected through this afternoon with up to 2 inches tonight. Most of the rest of the northern U.P. counties are under a winter weather advisory.
For those of you traveling the next few days slow down, keep more distance between your car and the one in front of you. It amazes me how many people drive so close to each other in snowy conditions.
The feature image is a screenshot of Houghton yesterday and the image above is from the Spyglass webcam in Holland showing the wave action on lake Michigan. It is a good thing we didn’t have a lot of moisture in the air or we would have had an interesting snow situation yesterday.
THIS WEEK IN WEATHER HISTORY
December 3
1998: An extended spell of warm weather occurs in early December with highs in the 50s and 60s the first six days of the month. Record highs are set on this date with 64 degrees at Grand Rapids and 66 degrees at Lansing.
2002: Arctic air and fresh snow cover combine to drop the temperature to 18 below zero at Lansing, setting a record for early season cold.
December 4
1886: A record cold snap continues across Lower Michigan. Lansing falls to 13 degrees below zero, as the temperature hits zero or below on first five days of the month there.
1941: Three days before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Lower Michigan is basking in record warm early December weather. Record highs include the 60 degrees at Muskegon, 63 degrees at Grand Rapids and 64 degrees at Lansing.
2009: A narrow band of heavy snow across central Ottawa and Kent Counties drops over a foot of snow from Allendale to Comstock Park. Up to 15 inches falls in northern sections of Grand Rapids.
December 5
2001: This is one of the warmest December days on record in Lower Michigan. Grand Rapids and Lansing set record highs of 69 degrees. Holland and Flint both hit 70 degrees.
December 6
1958: Arctic air settles into Lower Michigan during one of the coldest Decembers on record. High temperatures are only in the teens on this date. More than two feet of lake effect snow piles up at Muskegon during the first half of the month.
December 7
1909: A snowstorm drops from 5 to 8 inches of snow across southwest Lower Michigan.
1972: Record cold weather prevails across southwest Lower Michigan with high temperatures only in the mid teens and morning lows below zero.
December 8
1966: Temperatures reach record highs in the mid 60s only four days after record lows on the single numbers at Grand Rapids. The high of 64 degrees on this date followed the low of 8 degrees on the 4th.
2005: Cold weather prevails during the first half of December with record lows of 2 degrees above zero set at both Grand Rapids and Muskegon on this date.
December 9
1995: Arctic air and lake effect snow blasts Lower Michigan on this day and for the next three days. More than a foot of snow piles up near Lake Michigan and temperatures fall to the singles numbers at night, struggling only to the teens in the day.
It has been snowing lightly here since about 8:30 PM. This is much earlier than they said.
Lk snow warnings coming for Saturday.. Stay tuned INDYDOG!!
Kyle just said 3 to 6 inches of snow for me tonight into Thursday.
It was beautiful this morning- blue sky & sunshine. This afternoon the clouds started rolling in. Looks like it could snow any minute. Time will tell. 🙂
Clouds are rolling in I’m sure snow will be falling soon .. High of the day out at thee YARDofBRICKS 33* chilly … Temps crash tonight down in the low 20’s winter time in Michigan what a 48 hour temp change .. Stay warm .. INDYDOG..
Thank you lake effect and hello BOYNE MT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.weather.gov/images/erh/gis/LP_state_Snow.png
Here’s the precipitation map for the next 7 days. Can you say dry?
http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/p168i.gif?1512576258
Can you say the Lake-shore counties will be seeing upwards of 12+ inches and snow and drifting! Hello WINTER!!!!!!!!
Climatology for today December 6th At Grand Rapids, MI The average H/L 38/26 (30 year average) 37.1/26.0° (120 Year average) The record high for December 6th is 63° in 1951 the coldest maximum was 17° in 1958 The record low for today is 0° in 1966 and the warmest minimum is 40° set in 1998 The most precip is 0.93” in 1966 The largest snow fall was 7” in 1919 and the most on the ground at 7 AM is 10” in 1991 Last year the H/L was 39/27 no precip and there was 1” of snow on the ground… Read more »
At this time there is not a cloud in the sky here. The low at both my house and airport was 28° and the current temperature is 30 here and at the airport. At this time, GRR total snow fall for this season is still 0.6” with 0.4” falling in October and 0.2” falling in November. Some time yesterday the airport reported a trace of snow fall. I did see maybe 5 very small snow flurries last evening but that was it. The average date for the first inch of snow in GRR is November 19th so we are well… Read more »
27* degrees out at thee with a wind chill in the teens. . Snow will pick up over night .. Friday looks to be very snowy now 6+ inches in west Michigan.. Winter is a going stay tuned .. INDYDOG!
NWS GRR today: Not much accumulation expected inland through the forecast period. Highs through the period will be a few degrees either side of 30.
That’s what some are calling a “polar vortex” now? That’s weak for mid December in Michigan.
Hey Slim, question for you to look up. One of my kids asked yesterday what is the date for the latest first inch of snow to fall? I don’t think we’re near it, but being a week into December now with absolutely nothing, I was curious as well.
The Latest date for the first inch of snow fall for GRR is December 23rd 2011 the average date is November 19th the earliest date was October 12th 2006. At Lansing the latest date is December 30th 1939, and at Muskegon did not receive its reported 1st inch of snow in 1932 until March 2nd That winter Muskegon did nor record its first 0.5” of snow until February 1st for the season Muskegon reported at total of 20.6” of snow fall of witch 25.1” fell in March. At Grand Rapids the season total was 41.1” of that 25.3” fell in… Read more »
Thank so Slim! Your details always amaze me!
“you” not so!