michsnowfreak

February 2015 was the other extreme. I'd put that close to March 2012. July 1995 was hot but not as bad here as to the west.

Totally random, but when I think how warm it felt today in the 70s, what it must have been like in 1977. April 10th-13th saw highs of 86 87 89 87 at DTW. This stands as the hottest April spell on record and comes on the heels pf a bitter cold winter.

As weather boards have downsized, Ive scaled back on my end-of-season recaps. But as always, a recap of the winter in pics. Feel free to add any recaps/pics/etc of your own. Oct 2022 – T of snow First flakes of the season Oct 20th. Snow came down pretty good for a few hours, but didn’t accumulate. Nov 2022 – 2.9" of snow Heavy wet snow with parachute flakes on the 12th was the first accumulation, 1.0” of 5-1 ratio snow. An arctic front on the 19th gave a quick 1.8” of powder as wind chills dipped below zero. Dec 2021 – 5.1" of snow Dec was all about Christmas week. The arctic blast on the 23rd saw 2.4” of snow blow around in blizzard conditions as temps fell to 0 with -30 wind chills. Then another 2.4” blanket of fluffy snow fell overnight Christmas Eve into Christmas morning, providing a beautiful Christmas. Most of the rest of Dec was quite blah. Jan 2022 – 11.6" of snow A mild Jan, and winter was a near no-show for the first 3 weeks. A 3.7” snowfall caked to every tree branch on the 22nd, then on the 25th a blinding snowstorm dropped 6.2” of very wet snow, downing some tree branches and creating another winter wonderland. The last week of the month featured several additional light snows. Feb 2022 – 2.0" of snow Despite a snowcovered first week, Feb was mild and a complete about face from the trend of snowy Februarys. The beautiful yet destructive ice storm on the 22nd was by far the months highlight, with the only snowfall of note being 1.4” on the 25th. Mar 2022 – 15.5" of snow Active March. Blinding snow with blizzard conditions, sleet, rain & plentiful thunder/lighting dropped 5.5” of extremely low ratio snow on the 3rd. This was the 3rd winter storm in just over 7 weeks that downed some trees. After a slushy mix on the 6th, a 1.4” snow hit on the 7th, then another scenic wet snowfall dropped 5.3” on the 10th. Several more waves of snow on the 12/13th brought nearly 3 more inches of snow. The only issue was the March sun kept melting snow in between systems. Apr 2022 - Some small hail on the 1st, but no snow has yet fallen in April. So far the first/last flakes of the 2022-23 season have been Oct 20th – Mar 29th Season total snow: 37.1". Detroit officially had 37.0". A bit below avg but not too bad considering the huge snow deficits just to the south, and the near snowless east coast winter. Just need to get to Minneapolis by Fall to take back the magnet. Pic collages below.

Speaking of green grass. We SE MI guys said last week how the grass seemed to green up overnight. But I have noticed that it does not seem to be that emerald green you get some springs.

Interesting. Thanks for the info, mine was just a guess lol. I'll pass on severe weather locally. I've seen enough tree damage this year. But hopefully all who want it get it.

Awesome! Generally... 2022- very late 2021- early 2020- average 2019- average 2018- late 2017- early 2016- average 2015- late 2014- very late 2013- late 2012- very early 2011- late 2010- early

It's kind of hard to give dates, because everything pops at different times. Likely have to pick a specific tree species. With spring bloom and Fall color I usually generalize (ie early or late). Based on my pics... 2022- Very late. The Bradford pears weren't in bloom until early to mid May. Most trees didn't leaf out until the 2nd week of May. About 3 weeks later than 2021. 2021- Early. Some trees began flowering the 2nd week of April and by the April 20 snowstorm there were plenty of flowers and tiny leaves. 2020- pretty average. Leafout began in late April

The strength of nino is yet to be determined. Regardless it would affect next severe season, not this one I'd think.

If it snows it snows, if it doesn't it doesn't lol.

1972-73 actually had average (Detroit) to above average (Flint) snowfall in SE MI. It was somewhat similar (a bit snowier) to this winter in that there were multiple snow events throughout the season, it just wasn't a good year for sustained winter/snowcover. 1957-58 was very dry with well below average snowfall, presumably blocking shot at everything south and east. There were some good cold shots though.

Then I say let it snow. We are on a post-mid-April streak for the past 3 years. Might as well make it 4 if a cold shot is coming. DTW Apr 18, 2022- 2.3" Apr 20/21, 2021- 3.5" May 10, 2020- 0.5" Apr 17, 2020- 3.4" Apr 15, 2020- 1.3"

Cold shot moves west to east starting Sunday though.

I've not noticed anything other than buds. But I'm sure this week will get things popping. Yes the grass went instant green this week

I was more astounded how this "expert" made such a blanket statement based on one crap Winter when crap winters have happened all thru history and Boston is not far removed from record snow years. I even looked it up. Several sub-20" winters in the 1980s and a 100"+ winter 8 years ago. OK expert lol. It was kind of that way in the midwest and great lakes as well this season. A gradient. The southern midwest had very little snow but the upper midwest had record snow in Minnesota. Grand Rapids, MI had their 3rd snowiest winter on record but snow cover was well below average. We sat right on the cusp in the Detroit area, with Detroit (37.0") finishing 8" below avg. We had several storms with blinding snow, thundersnow/ice, and multiple scenic snows, but it was a bad year for consistent snow cover and cold. Not far south of us into ohio was a really low snow year. I give this winter a C- locally. Excellent christmas week weather and some fun storms Jan-Mar but the lack of sustained cold, white landscape, and ice on the lakes was a downer. It was a good season for winter photography due to the scenic wet snows and ice storms, but definitely hoping for more powder next year.

I was looking for something on the Winter here, and I stumbled upon some article about the lack of winter in new england this year. Some climatologist from southern New Hampshire said the cold snowy winters and Winter landscapes she grew up with in the 1980s are a thing of the past. It's unreal how people straight up default to the heavy snow of their youth even if it's a flat-out lie.

Some cold Winters you can go without any caking snow storms, and this year we had 4 of them. Plus an ice storm. Plus a white Christmas. The pictures were plenty, but i'm certainly hoping for more powder in '23-24

Now's the time to do the winter grade imo. Not a fan of doing it in midwinter, other than giving a rough estimation. I give this winter a C-. I would expect the "i'm not about cold/snowcover, just about storms" crowd to go a bit higher than that in SE MI. CONS When you add everything up, it was a very mild winter. The longest continuous stretch of snowcover was only 16 days (Jan 23-Feb 7). The first 3 weeks of january and much of february was as boring as it comes in regards to snow falling. The holiday season was bare or mostly bare until a few days before christmas. Powder snow was really lacking this winter, only saw a few inches or less at a time, as all the significant snows were wet. PROS The 1st blast of Winter in mid November brought a few inches of snow and a few bitter cold days that gave me one of the best laughs I've had in years, watching my mom and aunt try to get decorations in the frozen ground. The Christmas week cold snap and snow was perfectly timed. The arctic blizzard conditions on Dec 23 were true tundra, and Christmas day itself was a postcard with fresh snow & frigid air. Heavy, wet snowstorms on Jan 22, Jan 25, Mar 3, & Mar 10 gave nature photographers like me countless beautiful scenes. Plus each of those storms was also accompanied with blinding snow. The Feb 22 ice storm created beautiful scenes but a ton of destruction. Just 9 days later we got lots of cloud to ground lightning accompanied by snow and sleet. Both of those are things you usually don't see in any given winter. For a few weeks in late January and early February it was neat to drive around and see snowmen everywhere. I cant recall seeing so many, but packing snow will do that.

And as recently as late Fall people were freaking out about drought lol. We had one dry year after many wet ones. Stuff like that happens. But overall our climate has definitely trended wetter (and snowier) than last century.

Just had a good hailer to welcome April

It's MSP somewhat milder version of DTWs 2013-14. We were in 2nd place since early March. But just shy of #1...an April 15th snowfall did it.

March finished 14th wettest (4.11") and 6th snowiest (15.8") at Detroit.

The state line has been a big cutoff line this winter between Southern Michigan and Northern Ohio.

The march high temp warmed a lot more than the min temp at Detroit. A more fair comparison would be the first 30 years of climate data and the most recent 30 years. Not a small 13 year sample of avg high temps that includes the record march heat of 2012. The avg March temp for Detroit's first 30 years of data (1874-1903) and the most recent 30 years (1993-2022) show a difference of 4.5° (33.0 to 37.5). March is by far the month that has warmed the most since records began, and spring by far the season that has warmed the most. Locally, it is not even a contest. Spring/Summer have warmed much more than Winter/Autumn. In fact, over the past 100 years, there has been NO warming in January or October at Detroit, but March continues to see the most. I think if you transported someone from 1880 to 2023 the technology may overshadow the part that march is a few degrees warmer