Winter storm could dump up to 4 inches of snow on Ann Arbor area
Earlier story: Big, bad winter hasn't materialized for Ann Arbor area - but wait until this weekend
Editor's note: This article has been updated with a new weather forecast issued at 4 p.m.
Get the shovels ready, Ann Arbor. The winter reprieve is almost over.
The Ann Arbor area could get up to 4 inches of snow Thursday night and Friday, when two low pressure systems collide, mixing cold air from Canada with a lot of moisture moving up from Louisiana.
Earlier forecasts had predicted the possibility of as much as 6 inches for Ann Arbor, but an updated forecast issued at 4 p.m. today puts the upper limit at 4 inches, said Steve Considine, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in White Lake Township.
Motorists may find themselves scraping their car windows Friday morning
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
The area will continue to enjoy mild temperatures tonight, with an expected low of 37 degrees, but rain will set in after 7 p.m., forecasters say.
Rain is also likely Thursday until the cold air moves in late in the day, sending temperatures falling to around 25 degrees. The moisture will gradually change over to snow Thursday evening, creating a period of slushy conditions. Total accumulation of about 1 to 2 inches of snow is expected Thursday night.
Snow is likely to continue Friday with additional accumulations of 1 to 2 inches before tapering off Friday afternoon. Only light snow showers are expected, Friday night. The high Friday is expected to be 29, with the low Friday night dropping to around 17.
Whatever falls will likely stick around for a few days, said Dave Kook, also a National Weather Service Meteorologist.
“We have high temperatures below freezing through the start of next week,” he predicted.
The snowfall will follow a period of unseasonably warm weather in the Ann Arbor area, with average temperatures in December and so far this month far above normal.
The average temperature in December was about 5 degrees above normal, making it the 12th warmest December since 1880, said Dennis Kahlbaum, University of Michigan weather observer. The average in January so far is 8.5 degrees above normal, he said.
If you're feeling unhappy about the arrival of more seasonal winter weather, take heart, it could be worse. The folks at AccuWeather are forecasting near-blizzard conditions for the Chicago area Thursday night, with howling winds and blowing snow.
Comments
ABP
Thu, Jan 12, 2012 : 6:22 p.m.
4 inches of snow is not a winter storm!! Ugh!
MRunner73
Thu, Jan 12, 2012 : 3:32 p.m.
See Editor's Note....local forecasts are usually subject to chage. Any uncertainty in snow amounts will lend itself to a variety of forecasst amongst all of the sources. If you want to see more snow...go to Western or Northern MI. Winter is far from over.
jns131
Thu, Jan 12, 2012 : 4:43 p.m.
The UP has been hit numerous times and we have been hit none. Not holding my breathe.
MgoBlueMomma
Thu, Jan 12, 2012 : 3:06 p.m.
Well let's hope if we do get all this snow that people actually slow down and be safe. Let the plow trucks do their job, give them room. They are not the bad guys when it comes to bad weather. We kinda need them. They aren't out there for the heck of it. There is a reason whcih means that its slippery and they are needed. So people with 4x4, you are not invincible. And the people that are running late. Be late! Don't rush and cause an accident. Put the breakfast down, the cell phone down and pay attention people.
Johnson48racing
Thu, Jan 12, 2012 : 4:45 p.m.
Couldn't have said it better myself.
djacks24
Thu, Jan 12, 2012 : 3:36 p.m.
"Well let's hope if we do get all this snow that people actually slow down and be safe." It hasn't happened yet, so I wouldn't keep hoping. Or as they say wish in one hand...
Lily'sMom
Thu, Jan 12, 2012 : 1:52 a.m.
Heck--I'm keeping my sandals on until the real winter is here.
jns131
Thu, Jan 12, 2012 : 1:44 a.m.
Channel 4 News Weather just stated at 6 we will get no more then 2 inches. So put away the shovels and et all and go to work. No big deal. They say the biggest amount will be near Michigan City. That should dump about 15 inches. Yeah fun.
julieswhimsies
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 11:47 p.m.
Wow. A whoppin' 4 inches of snow....in mid-January. ...and just while I was enjoying our low gas bill. Oh, Woman up, Ann Arbor. Remember last winter, and the winter before, and the winter before that.
Old Salt
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 10:55 p.m.
I will not believe it ubtil I see it,but I am ready in any case
ferdcom
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 10:43 p.m.
"could", "up to". Throw in a "potentially" and an "almost" and get a real fact filled story.
tim
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 10:57 p.m.
You forgot "allegedly" and "possibly."
treetowncartel
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 10:29 p.m.
Only in a Jeep!
jjc155
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 10:21 p.m.
now its 4 inches, didnt the last article in AA.com earlier today say 6inches. Based on this I call for sunny and 60 by the time we get there. Man what a bad year for ice fishing!!!!! my freezer is empty.
djacks24
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 10:49 p.m.
Yeah, it did say 6 inches earlier. I'd trust this site for a weather report just like I'd trust them for a fair, accurate, and unbiased news report.
Diane
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 10 p.m.
It'll be what it'll be. Bring it on:)
justcurious
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 9:42 p.m.
Looking at the weather underground radar, it looks like we will pretty much miss most of this. But who knows. <a href="http://classic.wunderground.com/radar/mixedcomposite.asp?region=a4&size=2x&type=loop" rel='nofollow'>http://classic.wunderground.com/radar/mixedcomposite.asp?region=a4&size=2x&type=loop</a>
tim
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 9:29 p.m.
Bring back Ed Vielmetti!
julieswhimsies
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 11:49 p.m.
Yeah. W<a href="http://annarbor.com/news/ann-arbor-could-get-up-to-6-inches-of-snow/?cmpid=NL_33_block_headline#e">http://annarbor.com/news/ann-arbor-could-get-up-to-6-inches-of-snow/?cmpid=NL_33_block_headline#e</a> need a "Bring back Ed protest!"
joe.blow
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 9:07 p.m.
By predicting more snow than is likely to fall, that said predictor will get a lot of attention and viewers. That being said, I wonder if aa.com will see more hits based off a generous prediction.
Sallyxyz
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 9:06 p.m.
Plenty of time to prepare, Mr. Harmon. No excuses for poor road conditions with this much notice.
MgoBlueMomma
Thu, Jan 12, 2012 : 3:02 p.m.
Lets just hope that the people pay attention and allow the plows to do their job. Its not always about the trucks not doing their job to cause bad road conditions ya know. Mother Nature controls most of it and the plows can only do as much as traffic allows them to do. So to the public- SLOW DOWN, PAY ATTENTION. See a plow truck give them room. They aren't out there for the heck of it. They have a job to do.
JJ
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 8:22 p.m.
Just in from the ann arbor.com weather service.... OMG... 29 inches of snow predicted thursday thru friday... Stock up on life support essentials... AND DON'T FORGET TO KEEP READING ARE MOST ACCURATE PREDICTIONS!!!!!
jns131
Thu, Jan 12, 2012 : 4:41 p.m.
In a power outage the milk will go bad and you can use the toilet paper to TP the head guy at the local electric company. Always keep milk powder on hand. Works when things get real bad. Like the time we had that 3 state power outage? Try heating a baby bottle in the dark. Not fun.
GirlNextDoor
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 10:16 p.m.
Life support essentials: Bread Milk Toilet Paper While in college, I worked at a grocery store; these items always *blew* off the shelves when a storm was predicted. :/
JJ
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 8:40 p.m.
oops; .... Our most accurate predictions.
Jeff Gaynor
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 7:37 p.m.
Wait - didn't we have winter already? Feels to me like it's time for Spring!
Billy Bob Schwartz
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 7:28 p.m.
It's really neat the way we can plug ourselves into almost any topic and operate in the same way as another. Reading these comments reminded me of the "discussion" we all had about the 2012 Michgian football season. It will this. Oh, no, it will that. No way, it will the other thing. Seriously, it's fascinating. I really like snow, and I am pulling for the full six inches blowing like crazy. Now, maybe we can mention skiing--you know, sliding down a slippery slope--and then switch to the Second Amendment (or pick another) and we can discuss it. We will no doubt end up in somebody's car looking for his handgun. BTW, please remember that winter weather brings slippery sidewalks and slippery streets. Don't fall down, and if you are walking, do not assume that a car can stop on ice, even for you.
djacks24
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 7:19 p.m.
Liberal end of the world as we know it global warming comments in 9,8,7,.....
steve h
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 9:55 p.m.
Won't happen in my lifetime. So why should I care? Too bad for your brats though
Billy Bob Schwartz
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 7:30 p.m.
Just wait till you are fishing from the 87th floor of the Empire State Building.
ranger007
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 7:15 p.m.
Channel 7 said 2 inches...who should I believe?
paulyd
Thu, Jan 12, 2012 : 9:33 p.m.
Depends on whether it was a man or woman
Hmm
Thu, Jan 12, 2012 : 5:48 p.m.
Fox 2 was saying 4 inches today. So it' a safe bet we're gonna get between 1-6 inches of snow lol
jns131
Thu, Jan 12, 2012 : 1:46 a.m.
Channel 4 confirmed this at 6.
xmo
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 7:01 p.m.
Another Snowmageddon? I just wait and see, they never seem to be right!
CityGuy
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 6:52 p.m.
Not only will we ONLY get a dusting, but my bet is it will all be melted before we wake up to go to work on Friday morning. Any takers?
Sallyxyz
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 9:07 p.m.
Good excuse for Washtenaw County and the City of AA not to do any plowing or salting, even if it's needed. Oops, they'll say, we thought it was only going to be a dusting and we slept in!
lumberg48108
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 6:07 p.m.
Does anyone recall (in recent history) a time when we did not have a real snowfall (meaning you have to shovel) in December and into January? Not even a single snow? It has to be a long time since this happened.
dexterreader
Thu, Jan 12, 2012 : 1:21 p.m.
Yes, it was the winter of 82-83.
spm
Thu, Jan 12, 2012 : 12:15 a.m.
I remember that year. 1982 and 1983. I was outside in shirtsleeves washing my car during the Christmas break.
tim
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 11 p.m.
I forget the exact year, but it was around 60 on Christmas Day of a year in the early 80's - my cousins and I were outside playing softball in the mud with no coats on. No snow until January that winter too.
nickcarraweigh
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 5:58 p.m.
annarbor.com, where garage break-ins become home invasions and winter snowstorms signal the end of life as we know it. Meanwhile, the ever-vigilant censors are like the first-floor piano player with no idea what goes on in them rooms upstairs.
Bertha Venation
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 6:06 p.m.
HA! Good one, nick.. heh heh!
Bertha Venation
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 5:44 p.m.
Usually the bad weather goes around us, but I really don't mind the snow. It's pretty in the woods behind the house, and it's a good excuse to stay inside and (uh) "bake cookies."
djm12652
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 9:58 p.m.
I'd love to use that excuse Bertha...but I live a block and a half from work...can't stay indoors if I gotta go to work...and the snow? Just means I will be carrying the damn dog....
mg0blue
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 5:23 p.m.
The news channels are saying we are only supposed to get a dusting to just under an inch.
Ron Granger
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 5:14 p.m.
I can't wait to track the snowplows in realtime on the new online dohicky!
julieswhimsies
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 11:53 p.m.
um...what?
Bertha Venation
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 6:31 p.m.
Oh ya.. I forgot about that thing-a-ma-jiggy dohicky on the whatchamacall it computer thang. Thanks for the reminder, Ron.
tommy_t
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 6:05 p.m.
I can.
RJA
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 5 p.m.
Let it snow. I love it! I feel like it will be helpful to police in breakins following the foot prints. I just hope people will careful while driving.
Billy Bob Schwartz
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 7:19 p.m.
And while walking.
2WheelsGood
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 4:47 p.m.
I ran this article through my specially designed hyperbole filter and came up with a dusting of snow... at most.
2WheelsGood
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 5:13 p.m.
Let me clarify: a dusting of snow, but 3 - 6" of salt courtesy of the city.