[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by michsnowlvr

Where did you move from in 2005? If it was a snowier clime (or if you were in CA in Feb or Mar), that explains why this past winter did not seem to have too much snow.

Im a weather observer for the weather service, I take rain and snow measurments in Wyandotte. The entire season last year from Nov-Mar totaled 78 inches of snow (well above the normal of 40-45"), but also we had more frequent thawing than usual, so the snow was never deeper than a foot at any one time on the ground.

A big 10 inch snowstorm in mid-Dec melted on Christmas Eve, and January featured several light snowfalls of 1-4", but nothing heavy, and also a very big thaw the 2nd week of the month. What really made last winter exceptionally snowy was February and March . The two months combined for 51 inches of snow (the average for Feb-Mar combined is 16"). While snowfall was very frequent and cold persistant through most of Feb, the snow was not particularly heavy, until two 5" snowstorms just 3 days apart closed out the month. March opened with deep snow, but it all melted under another of those freakish thaw days right ahead of a 10-inch snowstorm on Mar 4/5. A 4" snowstorm followed a few days later...and this snowcover slowly melted by Spring. But then a 7" snowstorm came on Good Friday, leaving a white Easter, and just as this melted, one final snowstorm (5") came at the end of March.

Summarizing- last winter featured a lot of snow, but WAY too many thaws!

We moved from Orange County CA, but I grew up near South Lyon.
I am comparing the snow now to what it was like then. There was certainly more snow for more of the winter back then, than we had last year. I like snow to come and stay. I could do without the thawing and resulting ice and mud. Snow is great. Mud I can do without.

Oddly, Wyandotte seemed to get considerably more snow than we did on Grosse Ile. That must be related to the water. Maybe you can tell us why since you are a weather buff.

[Michigansnowflake]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

We moved from Orange County CA, but I grew up near South Lyon.
I am comparing the snow now to what it was like then. There was certainly more snow for more of the winter back then, than we had last year. I like snow to come and stay. I could do without the thawing and resulting ice and mud. Snow is great. Mud I can do without.

Oddly, Wyandotte seemed to get considerably more snow than we did on Grosse Ile. That must be related to the water. Maybe you can tell us why since you are a weather buff.

LOL, you reminded me of our *seasons* up here: Snow, dust and mud.

[GinaJ]

I think MI winters vary so much. You really never know what to expect. We have had some winters that didn't have so much and some with a lot of snow. That is like some months too. I know my mom said last Oct was very warm but then other Oct I have seen are freezing. Same with March. Some huge snows have happened then.

[michsnowlvr]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

We moved from Orange County CA, but I grew up near South Lyon.
I am comparing the snow now to what it was like then. There was certainly more snow for more of the winter back then, than we had last year. I like snow to come and stay. I could do without the thawing and resulting ice and mud. Snow is great. Mud I can do without.

Oddly, Wyandotte seemed to get considerably more snow than we did on Grosse Ile. That must be related to the water. Maybe you can tell us why since you are a weather buff.

At times the water has something to do with it, especially in those sloppy Fall and Spring snow/rain mix storms with marginal temperatures (more rain right by the river) but more than anything, think of it this way. 78 inches is the running TOTAL for the entire season, the first flake in November until the last flake in April. We had so many thaws it never got deeper than a foot on the ground at any one time (it would stay for a few weeks, melt, than as soon as it melted the snow and increased the mud, the snow started back up- wash, rinse, repeat). I measure rain and snow for the NWS every day (that something falls lol), so over the course of a whole season it adds up. Grosse Ile probably had more snow than you think, in terms of a running total. With frequent thaws, and the fact winters are so long, it is easy to forget what happened a few months earlier. (Think of this example- say you have a bitterly cold winter...the snowfall total is only 30", but almost no melting occurs, just normal settling. Come spring, you maybe like "wow, we had a lot of snow this winter", but the fact is, there wasnt a lot of snow, it just didnt melt, making it seem like more).

Detroit Metro Airport had 72 inches last winter, and the Weather Service office in White Lake, in northern Oakland county, had 92 inches.

Im with you btw, lets hope this winter features less thawing and mud!

[Michigansnowflake]

Water has everything to do with it, especailly here in NW Mi. Lake Michigan is a snow making machine. Last winter we got 164 inches. I believe, up here anyway, that we are starting a cycle of harsher winters, as the last (before last winter) few have been pretty mild

[kazoopilot]

Originally Posted by Michigansnowflake

LOL, you reminded me of our *seasons* up here: Snow, dust and mud.

You forgot orange barrel.

[Michigansnowflake]

Originally Posted by kazoopilot

You forgot orange barrel.

Nah, I rarely see an orange barrel on the roads I travel....thankgoodness

[darstar]

I know this is an old post...... but, how is it now , in the land down under ? Up here , we are pushing 50 " so far. 6 degrees above today ....more snows coming.

[kazoopilot]

Must be nice. It doesn't snow here in Three Rivers, at least not this year. We don't get much lake effect. Kalamazoo is only 25 miles north, and they're under a winter storm warning. 6-10" of snow. Here, nothing! We have maybe an inch or two on the ground. It's darn cold though, 8 degrees above.

[babigyrl5]

Cincinanti has spoiled me with mild winter, I may forget what Chicago taught me when I move to Michigan next year! :x