Lightning

One thing to consider is the NAM and GFS (the Canadian I think to but I was not following it for that storm) were mostly to far east. GFS to the bitter end.

I was in Two Harbors briefly this past summer. I visited Ely (niece was working there) and Tettegouche State Park. Beautiful area

Funny thing is a few weeks ago I saw an article in the news about how warm the lakes still were and that the ice will be below normal. I love it when mother nature says 'you want to bet?'

I was at Mt. Holly today skiing (been 10+ times so far). Plan to go many more. Going to Boyne eventually too. Plus Bittersweet. Ski conditions have been awesome this winter.

I love reading WDM. He has caused GRR to be the best NWS in MI.

You should also read my post about me being there!!

When the storm hit I was 7. Josh and I are specifically talking about the snow totals. I totally understand the storm was epic but for Detroit area snow totals were anything but epic. We have had much biggest snow totals.

I actually don't mind a good ice storm though I think they are best later March or early April instead of mid-winter.

I was thinking about Josh if we somehow got >24" from this system this coming week. Many people in Detroit would still think 1978 had more there 1978 storm was an epic storm for surrounding areas but for Detroiters it is a legend in their own mind

I remember one situation in the early 80s as a kid (lived in Utica MI area at the time). It was a stalled/slow moving boundary I recall 3 significant waves over a 3-4 day period. 1st was all snow (very wet 4-6"). 2nd wave was snow to mostly snow/rain ended as drizzle (didn't accumulate more than a very sloppy inch or so). The final wave was the largest which was rain to mostly snow (again a heavier wet snow) which we got about 11". QPF was a good ~3" amount. Unfortunately I can't remember exactly when it was. The part I remember most is wondering how much snow it would have been if all or mostly snow with better ratios. I remember here of much better totals in the area I now live around Fenton/Holly. It was an event to remember the event cause it lasted days.

I would agree as it does seem ~24" is hard to very hard to break in this area (except where LES gets involved). I seen only a couple in the 18-24" range but never higher. I do find that being higher in the hills helps. My house elevation is bit over 1000' and driving just a couple/few miles away an the temperature typically increase by 2-3 degrees and snow amounts tend to be slightly less (Fenton proper typically gets less snow then MBY) with most systems.

Hi Josh. Long time. I lived in Utica at the time of the Blizzard of '78. This storm was very disappointing as a kid for many as I remember like it was yesterday. The winter storm watch was issued and it was scrolled across the TV during the TV broadcast of Star Wars (it scrolled during Mos Eisley Cantina scene). We were expecting 18"+ in the northern burbs. Got 10" with some rain and UCS system still had classes except one school had power problems like due to the winds. My mom gave me a personal snow day!! Because of the regional impact it was talked about for days on the news. During the 70s (early 80s) most people in the northern burbs have memories of some major 16"+ storms (I sure do). Funny thing is I am willing to bet that most people are mixing up storms (thinking it was the Blizzard of '78 but it was really one of the other major storms that impacted them). If we had these forums and models we have today, I bet the meltdown from the Detroit crew would be huge (the kuchera totals SE MI model output would have been like 24-36" and results would have been 8-10" with rain mixed in).

I honestly think models are much better than they used to be especially when you get within 5 days (after 5 days well you know). Yes there is variance but not like it used to be. 10 years ago a models 4-5 days out would show INDY getting hammered only to have MSP area get blasted and INDY be in the 50s with rain. Now it seems like once we get within 5 days it we are already discussing storm tracks +/- 200 miles instead of +/- 500 miles or more.

Way cool Alek. Hope the Chicago crew that got impacted were able to enjoy. My years at Michigan Tech. I really loved all those crazy LES events.

Hello friends. I haven't been on weather forums in well over 8 years now. Some are probably going to be mad I am back (sorry). I started look up forums again around Christmas break. I think my screen name at the old weather forum was WhiteLake or something like that. I thought it would be fun to be back especially with the potential coming next week.