Fall 2022 – Spring 2023
Seasonal Total: 118.0” (+ estimated snow: 18.5″)
Continue reading “Snow Measurements (Fall 2022 – Spring 2023)”
Category: Snow
The Great Pre-Christmas Blizzard of ’22
The pre-Christmas winter weather event began with two days of moderate snow & relatively calm winds (12/21-22). We were under a “Winter Weather Advisory” during the front side of the area of low pressure. Once the center of the low passed to our south, winds flipped to the northwest, and the blizzard warning began (1 AM 12/23) which lasted until 1 AM 12/25.
While our maximum wind gust of 38 mph on 12/23 was nowhere near a record for our station, that day ended as the windiest day in station history (7.5 years in service) based on sustained winds. The following day was our 4th windiest.
Spoiler: Christmas Will Be White & Windy
Updated: Tuesday 12/20/22 11:25 AM
Expect high winds & significant snowfall in the days leading up to Christmas (Fri/Sat).
It’s still too early to discuss exact amounts of snow or top wind speeds. Have the shovels, snowblowers and/or generators ready though.
Decent snowfall likely late Wednesday & throughout Thursday before main event on Fri/Sat.
As of 11:25 AM Tuesday, max winds should occur Friday afternoon thru early Saturday morning. If power should fail, buildings without a backup source of power or heat will cool quickly as temperatures slide into the teens or colder.
Snow Measurements (Fall 2021 – Spring 2022)
Fall 2021 – Spring 2022
Seasonal Total: 110.9″
Continue reading “Snow Measurements (Fall 2021 – Spring 2022)”
Winter Storm Wrap-up (2/21/22 – 2/23/22)
After 50+ hours of snowfall, the sun finally appeared this afternoon!
This was a storm for the record books on parts of the Lake Superior Plateau (Negaunee area) where they received over 37″!
Down closer to the lake, we measured 18.3″ between 8 AM Monday the 21st and 5 PM Wednesday the 23rd. Meanwhile, the city’s official station recorded 13.5″ from 8 AM Monday to 8 AM Wednesday (we only recorded an additional 0.6″ after 7 AM). No daily or monthly records appear to have been set in Marquette.
Yes, “Twosday” (2/22/22) was by far the snowiest day of any February in our 5 years of measuring snow. In fact, that day ties 12/01/2019 for the snowiest one-day total on our record books. However, the December day produced 1.44″ of melted snow. Whereas yesterday the snow only melted down to 0.65″. Much lighter snow this time around! You can thank the colder temps for that — something you might have thought you’d never do.
It appears this was a very elevation-dependent storm system with Big Bay recording 20″ and similar numbers as ours from a station in Harvey close to the lake. Further up in Trowbridge (elevation: ~1000′), we see totals approaching 2 feet. That all makes sense since the lake definitely played a big part in the storm. Lake-effect (or enhanced) snowfall is quite subject to forces of elevation. For reference, we are 100′ higher than the official COOP station in Marquette, which partially explains our higher snowfall totals (generally, in fact).
Not for nothing, the website quadrupled it’s normal traffic on the 23rd! Google really likes our snowfall measurements and weather history pages. Many thanks to our dedicated visitors who encourage us to keep marching out into the wind-driven snow to take those measurements all winter long!