You are viewing this article in the AnnArbor.com archives. For the latest breaking news and updates in Ann Arbor and the surrounding area, see MLive.com/ann-arbor
Posted on Sun, Apr 17, 2011 : 5:35 p.m.

Winter weather advisory: Several inches of snow could snarl Monday morning commute in Ann Arbor

By Cindy Heflin

The calendar says it’s spring, but Old Man Winter refuses to believe it. He’s threatening to snarl the Monday morning commute with a few inches of snow. Yes, snow.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for the Ann Arbor area in effect from 3 a.m. to noon Monday and warns several inches of snow could accumulate on area roadways.

crash-snow-020910.jpg

Will the morning commute look like this in the Ann Arbor area?

Angele J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

Visibility could drop quickly to a mile or less during heavy periods of snow, the weather service said.

Snow will develop after 3 a.m., and 1 to 2 inches could fall before daylight with an additional 1 to 3 inches possible Monday morning for a total storm accumulation of 2 to 4 inches. Some areas in the storm's path could receive up to 5 inches of snow. Washtenaw, Lenawee, Wayne and Monroe counties are all included in the advisory area.

Meanwhile, a wind advisory remains in effect until 8 tonight. The National Weather Service said sustained winds of between 20 and 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph will continue into the early evening.

The service warned that driving top-heavy vehicles could be difficult during the gusty winds and unsecured objects such as trash cans and lawn furniture could be blown about.

Monday’s high temperature is expected to be 39 degrees, but the thermometer will dip back below freezing Monday night when the weather service predicts rain will mix with snow. Little or no accumulation is expected, however.

For updated weather conditions and forecasts throughout the day, check AnnArbor.com's weather page.

Comments

Bertha Venation

Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 4:11 p.m.

Woah.... good thing I left the chains on the ol' Hoveround.

Ignatz

Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 11:47 a.m.

So far, no snarl. Roads are just wet. I'm sooooooooooooooooooo happy the wind has subsided.

Moonmaiden

Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 10:54 a.m.

The sky is falling!

Tom Joad

Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 2:09 a.m.

It ain't over until...well, you know

amlive

Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 1:47 a.m.

How in the world does this turn in to a debate over global warming politics? Have any of you folks bringing up climate change actually lived in Michigan for more than a year or two? News flash - this is normal. It's not like the occasional snow fall in April or May (or even June once in a blue moon) is anything new or unusual. Welcome to Michigan. This is what happens here.

Tru2Blu76

Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 2:52 a.m.

Beg to differ: this snow season hasn't ended and total accumulation so far is near if not exceeding the record ( over 60 inches). Average seasonal accumulation is around 30 inches for this area. Not only that, we had 2 months of intense cold - so this has been a pretty severe cold weather season. Adding: normally, there are at least some trees budding by ~ April 15th - but no trees with leaves out at all, as far as I know this time around. Also - only crocuses and a couple other early Spring flowers are up, but such early bloomers as tulips are nowhere to be seen in Ann Arbor. No way is this "normal" for this area of Michigan.

Ryan Munson

Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 1:36 a.m.

Ah, the best weekend to be in Boston and miss what I don't. Btw, flowers are blooming here!

1bit

Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 1:36 a.m.

Gotta love Michigan. We always get some snow in mid-April. Sometimes later too.

Tru2Blu76

Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 2:44 a.m.

You're just a bit off: the last time we had snow in April was 4/5/2005 when we got 5 inches. No snow in April until this predicted snowfall. This one is very late in the season. I understand that this is due to the El Nino Effect. This is a period where the Southern Pacific waters off of S. America are cooler than normal - that's the other side of the El Nino coin which most times is brought up when it brings warmer than normal water to the Eastern Pacific.

wordup

Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 1:19 a.m.

thanks for the heads up! ill be sure to avoid facebook and see all the annoying teachers pray for a snow day (just dont suggest u make them use a personal day snyder)

zip the cat

Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 1:07 a.m.

Its not june yet,anything can and will happen with the weather/snow/cold/ect If you don't like it move south. Or better yet stay home monday

WalkingJoe

Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 12:48 a.m.

Global Warming, Climate change... How about it's Michigan and when it comes to the weather expect the unexpected.

oletroop

Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 12:29 a.m.

To paraphrase that great philosopher Drew Carey, "Screw global warming, I'm cold now!"

Fat Bill

Sun, Apr 17, 2011 : 11:35 p.m.

As the planet heats up, more energy will be introduced into the atmosphere in various ways, which could contribute to more wild fluctuations in weather patterns as well as bigger, badder individual storms. The energy has to go somewhere, at least according to physicists... Remember in 2002 when F3 and F4 tornados tore up Van Wert, Ohio, only about 100 miles south of here? That was on November 10th...

SillyTree

Sun, Apr 17, 2011 : 11:15 p.m.

The fact that global warming and democrats are used in the same sentence bothersome. Global warming should not be a political issue. Global warming is not determined by infrequent weather extremes or even weather extremes at all. It is a matter of the Earth's average temperature rising over decades of time. Even as a political football, it is not argued that global warming is occurring. The only thing that either side of the aisle suggests is its reason. There is a corelation between measured increases in the the Earth's temperature and increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide. Some say that relationship is not causal. Others say it is. The ones that believe it is not have numerous suggestions for alternate causes. Some believe it is due to solar cycles, but no concrete corelation has been seen. If you don't believe in global warming, you are outside the scope of the beliefs of either major side of the controversy. Michigan is not the globe. As Michigan goes, the globe does not necessarily follow.

katie

Sun, Apr 17, 2011 : 10:18 p.m.

I'm confused. You first say "total storm accumulation of 1 to 3 inches" then you say "Little or no accumulation is expected, however" Could you clarify these statements? Thank you. I'd like to know what to expect when I drive to work tomorrow.

wlinsenbigler

Sun, Apr 17, 2011 : 11:18 p.m.

One observation is for Monday morning, the other is for Monday night.

katie

Sun, Apr 17, 2011 : 11:14 p.m.

Thanks, Cindy.

Cindy Heflin

Sun, Apr 17, 2011 : 10:36 p.m.

I've updated the snow totals. There's actually a total storm accumulation of 2 to 4 inches expected. The "little or no accumulation expected" refers to Monday night, not tomorrow morning. Thanks for your question.

huh7891

Sun, Apr 17, 2011 : 10:31 p.m.

Your best bet would be to check weather.com

wcchamp4

Sun, Apr 17, 2011 : 10:30 p.m.

"Monday night when the weather service predicts rain will mix with snow. Little or no accumulation is expected, however." they are talking about MONDAY NIGHT! when little to no accumulation... but 1-3" for the morning drive.... i understood the article no problem.....

Hillbillydeluxe

Sun, Apr 17, 2011 : 10:15 p.m.

It pains me to say this, I longer support the democrats on there global warming theories.

fjord

Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 2:52 a.m.

Never confuse weather with climate. The climate is getting warmer. This is an indisputable fact. The weather is volatile and depends on the jet stream and countless other factors. Also, as has already been pointed out, the Democrats didn't develop the "theories" about global warming. This is only a political issue in that many Republicans refuse to accept overwhelming scientific evidence.

Tru2Blu76

Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 2:36 a.m.

Just an FYI: The Democrats don't own the Climate Change predictions. They simply took notice and some of them, like former Senator Al Gore, have campaigned to inform the public about THE SCIENCE behind those predictions. Furthermore, it's a mistake to think of this as a political issue, and we have the neoconservative "minimum government" THEORY to thank for the Republican attempts to discredit global warming predictions. Global Warming predictions are supported worldwide by thousands of scientists on that side and about 10 (paid by conservative interests) claiming they can disprove the science. All the conservatives I know refuse to believe global warming predictions but they do so because they can't accept that their claims about not needing government involvement are wrong. It's they who own the *political theory* but none of them understands the science behind global warming.

perfectly lubricated weather vane

Sun, Apr 17, 2011 : 10:58 p.m.

Wait. Someone is confused. The existence of climate change is not something that can be voted on by politicians. It is either observably provable or it's not. I wouldn't look to any politician on this matter. I wouldn't put much weight on a single weather event either. Didn't we just endure one of the warmest summers ever? Spend 30 minutes reading reputable sources and decide for yourself.

Macabre Sunset

Sun, Apr 17, 2011 : 10:37 p.m.

I don't, either, because it has become a political issue and no one cares about the science any more. But snow in April does not prove anything, one way or the other.