michsnowfreak

Detroit is at 25.5" to date (avg to date 19.2"), total seasonal avg around 43"...in 2013-14 it was a record 94.9". Again definitely not as severe but the constant arctic winds and drifting snow is definitely a reminder!

We had seen talk of 2013-14 similarities in here. Obviously while nowhere near as severe, today reminded me of 2014 with the constant bitter winds blowing and drifting snow throughout the day, and knowing the rest of January looks frigid.

Deep winter for sure. Today was like a smaller scale 2014 with the bitter winds and constant blowing and drifting snow. We've picked up several dustings the past few days but the drifting snow today was the most noticeable. DTW snowfall January 8.7", season to date 25.5". Here 8.8" January, 26.1" season to date.

Was it lake or synoptic?

Models will likely continue to struggle with the details too. Expect some good and bad busts in the near future.

2020-21 (48.8" to 44.9"). ORD has only beaten DTW 5 times the last 20 years.

DTW is 23.9" & ORD 21.5" to date. Long way to the finish line.

0.34"

The cobalt blue sky and frigid air following last nights storm makes for a gorgeous afternoon

Still melting it lol

In 154 years of record, the max temp in Boston during January tied this years 52° 8 times. 31 times it was colder. In 114 of the 154 Januaries on record, Boston saw a higher max than 52°. Lmao nothing like 1932.

Ironically. The biggest snowstorm on record in Toledo is 22.0" on March 1, 1900. And Detroit 24.5" April 6, 1886

I happily report the biggest bust in 15 years here. Yesterday's forecast was for a 50% chance of snow along the arctic front, with accumulation a dusting to less than an inch. We ended up with 6.2" of powder. The unforecast storm caused traffic gridlock, with 4-7" falling in the Detroit area. No models but the rgem even remotely sniffed it out as late as 12z yesterday when snow began at noon. To see such a unanimous model failure is startling in this day/age, so a word of caution with the many scenarios that undoubtedly lie ahead as the weather looks active and some more juice with the STJ

6.2" total here. 24.4" season. Lots of drifting overnight. A shocking model failure.

Id call the two busts comparable. Feb 5, 2011 had a forecast of partly sunny and ended up with 4-6". Yesterday had a forecast of dusting to less than an inch and had 4-7

I honestly think this is the biggest bust I've ever seen. The forecast the night before yesterday called for a 30% chance of snow showers. Then yesterday morning it was a 50% chance. No accumulation mentioned in the grids byt the forecast discussion mentioned a dusting to less than an inch. Sounds like a general 5-7" in the Detroit area. Still lightly snowing.

Major bust in SE MI today. We had a 50% chance of snow, finally updated to a winter weather advisory late afternoon. Will probably end up with 3-5" in the metro area. Models did terrible with this.

Couldnt ask for a more beautiful look (from warm-heavy CPC no less) in the dead of winter. Below avg temps and above avg precip in MI

I know youve mentioned you like March...but what do you mean for February re: the knockout punch? Traditionally the east IS warmer but not all out torch like some imply. I really like the look for here. A lot of Nina Februarys have a really nice snowy pattern (but also some mild days). Plus Feb has killed it the last few decades.

It varies by location, but generally the mid-January to early February is the coldest period of the year in this region (at Detroit, the coldest 2 weeks are January 18-31). So when you see ensemble maps with colder than avg temps during the coldest time of year - thats cold. Also, the colder than avg anomalies in already frigid places paired with the warmer than avg anomalies in already warm places mean a HUGE contrast in temps. This places our region in a great spot for potential. I mean, its just that, potential, but you definitely cant hate the look going forward.

Just 0.17" here. Tiny snow pile still on side of my driveway, will see if it lasts the day. Absolutely hate these days, but I expect a handful of them in a La Nina. DTWs record high today was low-hanging fruit (55F), so they set a new record of 56F.

I have to disagree. Extended looks cold after midmonth

I think most airports are going the way of that. DTW has had paid snow observers for like 15+ years. A lot of other places do too (paid observers, volunteer, etc). I think the goal is to find a good/feasible spot to measure away from the airfield (harder to measure, plus faa dont want it anyway). As long as its within a 5 mile radius or less of the airport, its good.

Like I said. Crazy. In the entire 152-year climate record, the most for Detroit was 94.9" in 2013-14 & the least 12.9" in 1936-37, one of the dustbowl winters.

I cant find a stretch in the 152 year record here of 8 consecutive winters below avg, but there was a horrendous stretch from 1931-32 thru 1948-49 where 15 of the 18 winters were below avg. Some of them were mild/snowless in many places, but several others were what youre going through now (missing in every direction, etc). Climo always puts things in perspective. It seems like a large concentration of this board is on the east coast/midatlantic, so it would be easy for them to think "big deal, youre not hitting 60" but you still get plenty of snow". We all want snowy backyards, but our climo has to be the base for our expectations. So you have a right to be pissed. I have a friend who moved to SE MI from SoCal 7 years ago and she thinks our winters are the north pole (and she loves it!), not even having experienced the real fun of a decade+ ago. Also have a friend from Long Island who gets a kick out of how its "always snowing" here. Then....my local group of weather weenies. Put a snow weenie in a state known for snow (our licence plates literally say "Water Winter Wonderland") but in the least snowy part of the state....its constant bitching and whining about the snow falling in the snowbelts.