December 2018 Observations and Discussion

[jaster220]

Plenty of golfers today...unreal

 

Might as well. Saves 'em a trip down south, eh?

[jaster220]

It feels like Octoberish.

 

Btw: Also, I am noticing the real cold air down the road is not real cold anymore. The 20s for highs are gone.

 

Only once or twice a century will a wintery Nov lead to a great winter. For SWMI you have to go way back to find one of those seasons. I believe 1951-52 was the best with 66-67 good as well. 1842-43 pulled it off as well. Those aren't great odds so when this Nov went full-blown winter you knew it could go great or, more often than not, it could go the other way. I will say that the current '16-17 treatment is enough to wanna fast-forward to spring, lol

[bainbridgekid]

Been snowing off and on here in Deerfield, Illinois for several hours and we've got over a half inch now. Side roads are actually starting to turn white with this last little burst.

 

It's not much, but it's enough to make it pretty!

[Tom]

Been snowing off and on here in Deerfield, Illinois for several hours and we've got over a half inch now. Side roads are actually starting to turn white with this last little burst.

 

It's not much, but it's enough to make it pretty!

I'm surprised to wake up this morning with a coating of snow (0.5") or so of snow.  Just a reminder we are in Winter and not Spring... Hope your enjoying your stay here.

[Grizzcoat]

Have had -SN with varying VIS from 1 1/2SM to 9SM for 30 hours now-- and continuing. . Just around .75" . Not bragging. Just nice to see the ground white. The most white it's been all winter. 

[BrianJK]

Curious to see what ohare records for last nights snow. We may have just DOUBLED our entire December of 0.3”.

[Niko]

Currently light snow and temps at 29F. Everything is white out there. Just under 0.5". Cant believe I am seeing snow falling. It has been awhile.

[Niko]

Only once or twice a century will a wintery Nov lead to a great winter. For SWMI you have to go way back to find one of those seasons. I believe 1951-52 was the best with 66-67 good as well. 1842-43 pulled it off as well. Those aren't great odds so when this Nov went full-blown winter you knew it could go great or, more often than not, it could go the other way. I will say that the current '16-17 treatment is enough to wanna fast-forward to spring, lol

At this pace, sure, why not.

[FV-Mike]

Light snow falling. Similar to last night. At least for a short time it is a wintry feeling

[Andie]

We're 39* heavy cloud cove, rain coming in but only a 1/2" over 12 hrs.

[Stacsh]

30 out with freezing drizzle all over the area. 30 plus accidents and no mention of it by NWS GRR. Fail

[bainbridgekid]

Getting some legit moderate snow here in Evanston just north of Chicago.

 

Got a solid inch on the ground from last night and now all the pavement is covered again.

[jaster220]

30 out with freezing drizzle all over the area. 30 plus accidents and no mention of it by NWS GRR. Fail

 

  two words that sadly get paired-up often. Did you score any snow last night or today?  I was in S. Haven and they had 1 or 1.5"

 

The 0.2" at home has put my Dec futility record in jeopardy. Trying to beat 2014's 1.2" and now sitting @ 1.1"

[jaster220]

Getting some legit moderate snow here in Evanston just north of Chicago.

 

Got a solid inch on the ground from last night and now all the pavement is covered again.

 

more -ZR here. Wondering if that will come my way or not?

[jaster220]

LOL, shoulda peeked at radar b4 posting above. Steady snow now with 0.1" so there goes my run at the futility record. If this slides just right, I could in for a surprise snowfall here. Radar looks healthy and no mixing evident.

 

From IWX, but heading my way basically and not holding my breath on GRR

 

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather StatementNational Weather Service Northern Indiana737 PM EST SAT DEC 29 2018MIZ077-078-300130-Berrien-Cass-737 PM EST SAT DEC 29 2018...AN AREA OF MODERATE SNOW WILL AFFECT NORTHERN CASS AND BERRIENCOUNTIES...At 733 PM EST, an area of moderate snow was located along a linefrom Sodus to Bridgman, moving east at 55 mph.Locations impacted include...Niles, Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, Dowagiac, Buchanan, Fair Plain,Benton Heights, Bridgman, Berrien Springs, Cassopolis, Watervliet,Three Oaks, Coloma, Marcellus, Stevensville, Shorewood-Tower Hill,Paw Paw Lake, Shorewood-Tower Hills-Harbert, Lake Michigan Beach andPokagon.This includes the following highways... Interstate 196 between mile markers 0 and 7. Interstate 94 in Michigan between mile markers 6 and 42.Visibilities will drop to less than a mile in this area of snow withaccumulations up to an inch possible especially north of M 60.

[Niko]

 

LOL, shoulda peeked at radar b4 posting above. Steady snow now with 0.1" so there goes my run at the futility record. If this slides just right, I could in for a surprise snowfall here. Radar looks healthy and no mixing evident.

 

From IWX, but heading my way basically and not holding my breath on GRR

 

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather StatementNational Weather Service Northern Indiana737 PM EST SAT DEC 29 2018MIZ077-078-300130-Berrien-Cass-737 PM EST SAT DEC 29 2018...AN AREA OF MODERATE SNOW WILL AFFECT NORTHERN CASS AND BERRIENCOUNTIES...At 733 PM EST, an area of moderate snow was located along a linefrom Sodus to Bridgman, moving east at 55 mph.Locations impacted include...Niles, Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, Dowagiac, Buchanan, Fair Plain,Benton Heights, Bridgman, Berrien Springs, Cassopolis, Watervliet,Three Oaks, Coloma, Marcellus, Stevensville, Shorewood-Tower Hill,Paw Paw Lake, Shorewood-Tower Hills-Harbert, Lake Michigan Beach andPokagon.This includes the following highways... Interstate 196 between mile markers 0 and 7. Interstate 94 in Michigan between mile markers 6 and 42.Visibilities will drop to less than a mile in this area of snow withaccumulations up to an inch possible especially north of M 60.

Enjoy buddy!

[Niko]

Here IMBY snowshowers and or flurries w temps in the upper 20s. A dusting is laying around.

[Stacsh]

two words that sadly get paired-up often. Did you score any snow last night or today? I was in S. Haven and they had 1 or 1.5"

 

The 0.2" at home has put my Dec futility record in jeopardy. Trying to beat 2014's 1.2" and now sitting @ 1.1"

No snow. But Ottawa and Muskegon county dispatch is overwhelmed with slide offs. No one knows how bad it is because there is no advisory or warning of any hazardous travel. NWS here is horrid.

[jaster220]

Looks like about 0.7" has fallen and still coming down here. Certainly a surprise win

[Niko]

Looks like about 0.7" has fallen and still coming down here. Certainly a surprise win

Indeed.....Same here. Snowing nicely. Everything snow covered. Radar looking impressive. Where the heck did this come from?!

[FV-Mike]

ORD record .9 inches of snowfall yesterday. December total at 1.4 inches

[westMJim]

There is a solid 0.3" of snow cover here in Grand Rapids. The ground is covered (the grass is sticking out) and the road is also covered. but this should be all gone later today. 

[Niko]

Received an inch of snow, which was definitely a surprise. Looks nice outside, finally looks like December. The rainstorm coming up for NYE and NYD should wash everything away.

[Niko]

Currently at 28F w mostly sunny skies.

[Niko]

Models are seeing a warm-up next weekend w temps rising into the 40s.............Half of January looks dull btw. Lets hope the other half shows action.

[jaster220]

I'm surprised to wake up this morning with a coating of snow (0.5") or so of snow.  Just a reminder we are in Winter and not Spring... Hope your enjoying your stay here.

 

Received an inch of snow, which was definitely a surprise. Looks nice outside, finally looks like December. The rainstorm coming up for NYE and NYD should wash everything away.

 

1.1" here yesterday and it was VERY NICE to wake up to snow cover after 29 days with brown ground. Currently below freezing but strong sunshine is doing it's trick wherever there's dark colored anything to absorb the rays. Oh well, it's on to tomorrow night's fun.

[westMJim]

I will update this again on Tuesday or Wednesday but here is where several Michigan locations stand so far this December with just 2 more days to go. The mean in Grand Rapids is  32.6 that is a departure of +3.2 and there has only been 3.2” of snow fall (a departure of -17.6”) At Muskegon their mean is 33.8° (-3.2) and their snow fall has only been 3.2” (-23.7”) over at Lansing the mean is 31.7 (+3.1) and the snow fall is just 1.2” (-10.8”) on the east side of the state Detroit has a mean of 34.4 (+4.1) and only 0.4” of snow fall. At Flint the numbers are 31.3° (+3.8) and 3.3” Of snow fall. At Saginaw the numbers are 31.5 (+3.9) with just 0.9” of snow fall.  In norther Michigan Aplena has a December mean of 29.3 (+4.5) and just 4.5” of snow has fallen. In the UP Sault Ste Marie the mean is 26.1 (+3.6) with 14.2” of snow fall At Munising the mean is 27.7 (+3.5) and they have had just 14.3” of snow fall At Marquette the mean is 22.7 (+3.9) with 35.5” of snow fall.  The one big item that stands out is the lack of lake effect snow this winter here are some snow fall departure from norther Michigan Alpena -11.4” Houghton Lake -15.8” Gaylord -26.1” Traverse City -19.6” even in parts of the UP the snow fall is down Munising -11.8” Sault St Marie -4.9” and here in Grand Rapids for the winter season at this point the departure is now at -10.2”

The sun is now out here and the temperature is now at 33.4° and what little bit of snow on the ground is now melting.

[Tom]

On this last day of 2018, mother nature is going to ring in the New Year on a stormy note across the MW/GL's region.  It's to bad our New Year's storm isn't transpiring into a widespread winter storm.  I really thought this storm system had a good chance to develop into a bigger snowstorm, but it's just not going to happen.

 

In any case, yesterday afternoon I took a last minute trip up north to Castle Rock Lake to help a friend of mine fix his gas tank for his beach house.  It was sorta an emergency and came back last night.  The whole ride up north on the 90 had light snow/flurries sputtering out of the low stratus cloud deck and it had that wintry feel but the lack of a deep snow pack was not the look of winter up there.  The last time I took a trip up north into Wisco during the Winter was for a ski trip to Cascade Mtn a few years back and during that trip there was a landscape full of deep snow.  What I'm trying to say is, the brown landscape was an "eye sore" to look at.  Not only that, but the businesses that need the snow were desperate to see it snow again.  Keeping that in mind, we should make a slogan called..."MakeItSnowAgain"

[CentralNebWeather]

I am in town and blowing snow is impressive. We still have most of our blizzard snow from last week and in places off of drifts the visibility is less than a block then no issues then low visibility. Glad I’m not driving an east west highway

[Niko]

Current conditions are rainy N cold w temps in the mid 30s.

 

El Nino continues!

[Andie]

Our spring-like "fake with the left" is here. High will be 63*

However, the right cross will be the 26* and ice we will see tomorrow evening. 

 

That's Texas for you.

Just when you think its safe to take your coat off, Winter let's you have it!

 

Happy New Year!!

[OKwx2k4]

Our spring-like "fake with the left" is here. High will be 63*

However, the right cross will be the 26* and ice we will see tomorrow evening.

 

That's Texas for you.

Just when you think its safe to take your coat off, Winter let's you have it!

 

Happy New Year!!

That's a pretty stiff one-two combo right there.

 

Here's to a white 2019!

[Hawkeye]

Here are my totals...

 

December snow: 0.7"

December precip: 2.80"

 

2018 precip: 47.21"

[jaster220]

Here are my totals...

 

December snow: 0.7"

December precip: 2.80"

 

2018 precip: 47.21"

 

That would be an all-time Dec futility record here. Where does it rank for your area?

[Hawkeye]

That would be an all-time Dec futility record here. Where does it rank for your area?

 

There must have been some lower totals than 0.7".  I bet there is a trace December somewhere in the records.

[Minny_Weather]

We finished December here with 5.6", only 0.3" below normal. It felt like we got less, but we did get 3" in the first couple days of the month which boosted our total.

[Stormy]

There must have been some lower totals than 0.7". I bet there is a trace December somewhere in the records.

I’m pretty confident there have been trace December snowfall amounts in the past in CR. Maybe even in the last decade as I’ve had no measurable snowfall in three December’s since 2000, but none in the 1990s. In 2002, (only .20” in 2001) 2006, & 2014! I’m only approximately 40 miles due south of CR. & my records start 1/1/1990.

Also only .30” snowfall this month

Season = 14.5” (Still above normal!)

Dec. precip.= 2.97”

2018 precip.= 49.69” (wettest yr. since 2010)

[Hawkeye]

I don't know why I didn't check my own records.  In my yard, December 2014 only received 0.6" of snow and December 2011 only 0.1".

[hlcater]

I don't know why I didn't check my own records.  In my yard, December 2014 only received 0.6" of snow and December 2011 only 0.1".

 

2014-15 leaps out to me as a massive analog year to this one. So does 02-03. Honestly, the SST setup in the Pacific for much of December almost perfectly mirrored that of December 2014.

[jaster220]

2014-15 leaps out to me as a massive analog year to this one. So does 02-03. Honestly, the SST setup in the Pacific for much of December almost perfectly mirrored that of December 2014.

 

agreed. as I watch 77-78 drop by the wayside and others as well, 14-15 remains a strong contender for best of the bunch. Another one well liked around here is 06-07 with Battle Creek hitting 97.5" that season despite the late start. One can only hope the we see something of that genre going forward.