Michigan is usually a state where snow totals vary greatly. It’s also a state where snow totals compared to long-term averages can vary quite a bit.
That is true this winter again. We have parts of the state with above average snowfall so far. We also have a sizable section of Lower Michigan with much less snow so far as compared to normal.
Here’s the percent deviation from normal snowfall to date.
Snowfall deviation from long-term averages (in percent). Season to date.
The light yellow area and light green areas depict near normal snowfall so far this winter. Those areas are within 10 percent of long-term averages. Most of Lower Michigan doesn’t have a large deviation from normal snowfall. The exception is a large chunk of southwest Lower Michigan is really lacking snow this year. Grand Rapids, Holland, Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Grand Haven, South Haven, Benton Harbor and St. Joseph are all in an area that is 20 percent to 30 percent behind on snowfall so far this winter. Grand Rapids is 14 inches below an average snow of 60 inches to date. Kalamazoo has only had 44 inches of snow, which is 18 inches behind average to this date.
The Upper Peninsula also has some variance in snowfall compared to averages. Part of the heaviest snow area around the Keweenaw Peninsula is slightly lower than normal with snow. The rest of the Upper Peninsula has experienced above average snow. Part of the eastern U.P. along the Lake Superior shoreline is 40 percent to 60 percent above normal. That’s a significant departure from normal, meaning the eastern U.P. can claim to be having a snowy winter.
Here’s a good graphical look at how much snow has fallen already this winter.
Snow so far as of February 18, 2020
The heaviest snow areas of the U.P. are over 150 inches so far this winter, with isolated spots approaching 200 inches. Far southeast Lower is working on 30 inches or so, which is near average.