Mid-Point of Winter
January 23rd, 2009 at 5:24 am by Bill Steffen under Bill's Blog, Weather
Last night at Midnight was the halfway point of winter (when it comes to temperature). Our average high and low temperature is at 29/15 and that’s as low as it goes. We’ve already had 89″ of snow in Grand Rapids. Does that mean 89 x 2 = 178″ of snow for the season??!! No…snow is more loaded into the front half of winter. Lake Michigan is cold now (32 degrees) and there is more ice on the lake. This will reduce lake-effect snow. Also the storm track is often a little south of us. I would guess that we’ll head toward 115-120″ for the winter, which would put this winter in 2nd place and last winter into 3rd place. Our snowiest winter was 1951-52 with 132″ at the airport and 144″ downtown. It’s not impossible that with a couple of good storm we could approach that. One thing I am sure of is that the 2nd half of winter is the brighter half. We are gaining daylight at the rate of 2 minutes each day now (15 minutes in the next week). Happy Friday, everyone – thanks for reading my blog!
That is good news that winter is half over. I am looking foreward to spring.
Bill, when do you think we will start seeing severe storms this year? I am sure in Feb. we will start to see some action in the southwest.
Ahhh, the downward side of this giant mountain I call Winter 08/09. Or maybe just the downward side of that 12 foot tall pile of snow in my front yard.
Its always a slow ride to spring here in the Great Lakes as the cold water will lead to many cold days well into “spring” and it will be May before we really have a good shot of nice day to day weather….23° here this AM will a cold weekend on the way..looks dry for the most part the next several days.
SlimJim
Holy Cow, I’m glad it’s half way over too – my un-mentionables are about to freeze off! I have a feeling that even you die hard winter lovers will be happy when the crocuses start to peek out from under all of this snow.
They finally posted the updated ice data for the week! Here it is:
http://www.natice.noaa.gov/pub/Great_Lakes/5_Lake_Composite/West_Composite/wl090122color.jpg
Just from looking at the pics the last 5 years or so, this is a lot of ice for January in my opinion.
Even the Chesapeake is starting to freeze! I haven’t seen that in a long time. Usually when I see ice it is only a tiny bit on the edges at the peak of the year.
http://www.natice.noaa.gov/pub/ches_bay/chesapeake/Currentcolor.pdf
Bill, thanks for the blog. Even though I have never blogged, I do read it daily. I appreciate the weather education, the links and your perspective.
Do you suppose that upwelling melted the ice along the shore from Chicago up to Milwaukee?
I would think that would be a good bet Michael, Also a off shore wind will “blow” the ice out into the lake. When I lived over in Bay City I lived only 6 blocks from the Saginaw Bay and a stiff SW wind would blow the ice out and a NE wind would blow it back in. 33° here with cloudy skies.
SlimJim
only half way? ugh! seems like winter has been here a lot longer than that. that rodent on february 2nd better be bringing an early spring!
beautiful sunrise this morning … very red sky though. Red sky in morning …
winter is returning
HOUGHTON FOG 9 6 88 N15G28 29.90R VSB 1/4 WCI -8
I still say we get to 120 inches or more of snowfall. What is that about about 30 inches more than we have already recorded? I have nothing scientific or anything else to base that estimate on. I just say with a good two months left of Winter, we could easily get there.
I’m hoping we are only in a little lull for storms right now. Lets see, 2 to 5 inches coming this evening right? One or two decent synoptic snows and a few lake effect events and walah, we’d be there!
Here’s to a record breaking snowfall this season!
6lad to herar we are half done! can’t wait
Looks like there might be a brief burst of decent snow as the arctic front sinks south this evening.
Also, I have to say, even as one who enjoys winter weather, THAT was a LONG half winter.
Nice lil respite from the cold air today. Actually felt ’springlike’ out there, with the sun out and close to 40*F temps. Back to reality now with a cold wind and temp down to 28*F. Sure looks to be a long spell of BORING weather to continue….YAWNS!
WEATHER: Cloudy with an order of Flurries…Temp: 28F
It hit 33* at my house today, for about 5 minutes. That’s my idea of the perfect January thaw.
Mmmmm, 30s are so warm! The wonderful January thaw happened in December, and it started snowing earlier than in the past couple years, so here’s hoping for an early spring! I don’t know if I can take much more than another month of this winter.
Do you guys think we will see another major snow?
Went ice fishing today near Lake Charlevoix. Started warm With drizzle, ended at 4 o’clock with winds moving my shanty and holes freezing up inside. Can’t wait for more below zero tomorrow.
Folks up north sure do know how to have fun in the winter…
http://www.pasty.com/discus/messages/4918/4944.html
Talk about a rip in the ole marble bag!
upnortscott — how they biting?
Craig, doing good got 15 nice gills today, but lots of sorting. Talked to a friend we postponed tomorrow because of the wind. Sunday is a better bet,still predicting -3 but no wind. Just fine if you’re not running tip-ups.
Yeah, scott, the wind makes it rough. Hard to beat gills out from under the ice for eating. 8, 9, 10 inchers????
I wish the gills got that big, they get hit pretty hard around here. I consider a decent gill 6, The lake I was on today has a lot of pike so that helps. Most of the time you’ll pull a couple with teeth marks. I’ve also been told there are BIG muskie in it but have never tied into one…folklore? noticed 2 disinct groups go thru at middepth almost dropped a demonglow and minnow but was having fun with the gills
Bob P. Great site, but they forgot to mention the fish throw contest, The person who throws the frozen lake trout the furthest wins. Dont know the website but might want to look for Beaver Island/St Patricks day. They are serious inclding styles HEADFIRST (like a football) and by the tail. They also hold celtic games (maybe 40 yrs ago when I did’nt HAVE to have tylenol) but they have fun
I was on tv last 3 nights ago! anyone watch?
Mention of 1951-1952 as being the snowiest winter is memorable. I was on the front line in Korea where the winter was milder than the previous one. My Father, in Michigan, was a farmer and it was a real hardship to keep his animals warm, watered and fed. He wrote that he would accept anything as long as we in Korea weren’t suffering as much as the troops had in the terrible winter of 1950-1951.