The real Winter of 2012-13

[wxhstn74]

The real winter of 2012-13

http://weatherhistorian.blogspot.com/2013/04/january-through-march-real-winter-of.html

[michsnowfreak]

Nice writeup so far. The 94 snowband bonanza of late january and february was something else. Interesting in that - though it came in different events - snowfall was very close at all 4 main climate stations in SE MI. All within about 4 inches of each other. Though usually DTX sees a more noticeable amount more than the other 3, that wasnt the case this winter. DTW (47.6"), FNT (43.6"), MBS (43.4") and DTX (47.7"). Note, however, that U of M Ann Arbor recorded 65.3" of snow this winter (why I brought up the 94 snowbands, which was another reason DTW helped to inch out FNT/MBS).

Its odd that march was colder than December! Also odd that the best snowstorm of the winter came before winter really settled in. Made for a nice Christmas week though. February featured a lot of shoveling but no public standstill snowstorms.

[Jonger]

Very backloaded, but no widespread warning criteria storms.

[michsnowfreak]

Very backloaded, but no widespread warning criteria storms.

December 26 was widespread, it just missed your area by fringing you with advisory type snow.

[SpartyOn]

December 26 was widespread, it just missed your area by fringing you with advisory type snow.

 

 

Still no WSWarnings. 

[dmc76]

Still no WSWarnings. 

 

Correct. Just Macomb and St.Clair counties were issued one. Even though most of Eastern Oakland got more then 6" but western half was in the 4-6" range 

[Jonger]

Still no WSWarnings. 

 

Correct. Just Macomb and St.Clair counties were issued one. Even though most of Eastern Oakland got more then 6" but western half was in the 4-6" range 

Not a good winter for snowdepth in SE lower.

[michsnowfreak]

Still no WSWarnings.

Correct. But what in the world does that have to do with the storm. Its not the weathers fault dtx didnt habe a warning. Just like when a wsw is issued and you bust with 2" it doesnt make the storm any better because a warning was issued lol.

Btw didnt Oakland co have a warning feb 26?

[michsnowfreak]

Not a good winter for snowdepth in SE lower.

I think it was pretty average but ill have to check later. No deep days but lots of white ones.

[michsnowfreak]

I think it was pretty average but ill have to check later. No deep days but lots of white ones.

Snowcover 2012-13 in SE MI

 

................1"+ snowcover days.....3"+ snowcover days.......5"+ snowcover days......10"+ snowcover days

Detroit........50 (avg is 47)...............28 (avg is 28).................9 (avg is 15)................0 (avg is 3)

Ann Arbor...61 (avg is 61)...............36 (avg is 40)...............19 (avg is 25)................0 (avg is 6)

Flint............71 (avg is 65)...............22 (avg is 38).................7 (avg is 21)................0 (avg is 3)

 

closer to you...

Lansing......64 (avg is 67)................10 (avg is 41)................2 (avg is 23)................0 (avg is 4)

 

So basically...simply having white on the ground was near to slightly ABOVE normal in SE MI, but the days of deeper snow were somewhat less than normal. This changed drastically as you headed to the northwest fringes of SE MI where it was indeed a crummy snowcover (and snowfall) season. Very rare to have that region see the lowest totals in the area.

[Jonger]

I think it was pretty average but ill have to check later. No deep days but lots of white ones.

Snowcover 2012-13 in SE MI

 

................1"+ snowcover days.....3"+ snowcover days.......5"+ snowcover days......10"+ snowcover days

Detroit........50 (avg is 47)...............28 (avg is 28).................9 (avg is 15)................0 (avg is 3)

Ann Arbor...61 (avg is 61)...............36 (avg is 40)...............19 (avg is 25)................0 (avg is 6)

Flint............71 (avg is 65)...............22 (avg is 38).................7 (avg is 21)................0 (avg is 3)

 

closer to you...

Lansing......64 (avg is 67)................10 (avg is 41)................2 (avg is 23)................0 (avg is 4)

 

So basically...simply having white on the ground was near to slightly ABOVE normal in SE MI, but the days of deeper snow were somewhat less than normal. This changed drastically as you headed to the northwest fringes of SE MI where it was indeed a crummy snowcover (and snowfall) season. Very rare to have that region see the lowest totals in the area.

2 winters in a row that didn't feature a 6 inch snow depth locally, for Howell.

[michsnowfreak]

2 winters in a row that didn't feature a 6 inch snow depth locally, for Howell.

DTW peaked at 6" and I at 7" this year, but last year we both peaked at 5". SE MI saw widespread 10"+ snowdepths nearly every winter of the 21st century before that, so unfortunately some lower years were due.

 

Peak depth here in 2012-13 was Dec 29-30

 

 

Looking at Detroit (snowdepth records began in 1885)....

 

~28 out of the 128 winters saw a peak depth of 5" or less.

 

~9 out of the 128 winters never saw a 4" snowdepth! Those being 1888-89, 1936-37, 1937-38, 1941-42, 1952-53, 1957-58, 1960-61, 1971-72, and 1988-89. The lowest was 1952-53 when the peak obs time snow depth amazingly was only 2"!!! (It probably was 3" midday once or twice, but amazing nonetheless). All the rest were 3".

 

~41 out of the 128 winters saw a peak depth of 10" or more, but only 12 of those were 15"+ (most recently 16" in Feb 2011).

 

While I won't say how good or bad next winter will be, Howell's proximity in SE MI and the fact they havent had a 6"+ depth since late Feb or early Mar 2011 leads me to believe at some point there will be deep snow next season.

[Harry]

2 winters in a row that didn't feature a 6 inch snow depth locally, for Howell.

 

There, here, and Lansing was the screw zone on the 6+ event front.