GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Massive lake-effect snows this winter have led to feast-or-famine seasonal totals to date in Michigan.
With no main snowstorms traversing the state of Michigan to date this winter, snowfall has been nearly completely within the type of lake-effect, notably within the northwest-flow belts. Thus, utilizing knowledge from each Nationwide Climate Service local weather websites and Neighborhood Collaborative Rain Hail and Snow Community observing websites, the distinction in snow totals inside and outdoors of the lake-effect belts is obtrusive.
Maps present two clear bullseyes within the state of Michigan to date this winter: in elements of the japanese Higher Peninsula and the northern Decrease Peninsula.
Nice Lakes ice protection making beneficial properties as colder climate continues
TWO CITIES ECLIPSE 8 FEET
There are two communities within the state which have obtained near 9 toes of snow by the primary week of January.
Munising, situated within the japanese Higher Peninsula alongside Lake Superior, has obtained 108.7 inches. Gaylord, situated within the northern Decrease Peninsula alongside I-75, has obtained 107.5 inches. Each totals are between 3 and 4 toes above common.
Elsewhere up north, there’s a clear distinction between the lake-effect and non-lake-effect favored areas. Sault Ste. Marie within the Higher Peninsula is at 96.6 inches, which is greater than 40 inches above common. In the meantime, Marquette has solely obtained 44.7 inches, almost 3 toes beneath common. Additional downstate, Kalkaska’s place downwind of Lake Michigan has led to its 83.5 inches and Traverse Metropolis’s 62.1 inches, whereas Alpena’s location on the western shores of Lake Huron have led to solely 21.4 inches.
DOWNSTATE TOTALS LAG BEHIND
As anticipated, even within the lake-effect belts downstate, the magnitude of lake-effect hasn’t matched that of the upstate favored areas. Grand Rapids has obtained 35.8 inches, slightly below 2 inches above common. In the meantime, Plainwell is at 37.3, Grandville 33.6, Holland 30.8 and Hastings 20 inches.
The dearth of snow is rather more pronounced throughout the central and japanese elements of the Decrease Peninsula. Lansing’s 13.6 inches is a few half-foot behind, whereas Detroit has solely obtained 6.0 inches, lower than half of its common by now. One of many lowest totals within the state is Hillsdale, which has solely recorded 5.3 inches.
WILL THE PATTERN CHANGE?
Whereas colder-than-normal circumstances are prone to persist for not less than the subsequent one to 2 weeks, there are little indicators of any main snowstorms.
Due to this fact, as chilly air continues to pour over the Nice Lakes, it’s the lake-effect favored areas that may proceed including to their totals, whereas inland areas will seemingly fall additional behind.
