Ann Arbor officially has a white Christmas; more snowfall to come
Ann Arbor residents returning to work on Wednesday could be in for a very snowy walk.
AnnArbor.com file photo
University of Michigan staff meteorologist Dennis Kahlbaum said the National Weather Service is currently projecting four to five inches of snow for the Ann Arbor area on Wednesday.
“We’re right on the edge of the storm, so that number could go up or down very quickly,” he said.
“The snowfall rapidly increases as you move to the east and south, so depending on how the storm system moves we could see more or less snow.”
The storm system that could cause the snowfall is currently dumping large amounts of rain on East Texas, Louisiana and other gulf states. The storm also is bringing strong winds that in some areas have led to tornado watches being issued.
The winds are not expected to be quite as strong as the storm pushes north, but Kahlbaum said wind speeds accompanying the snow could be as high as 25 to 30 miles per hour.
“That means that with the snow you’ll see a lot of blowing and drifts as well,” he said.
“People should use caution if they plan on driving Wednesday, especially later on Wednesday when the snow will be heaviest.”
By the time the storm reaches Michigan, it will cover an area ranging from Indiana all the way to New York state. Kahlbaum said the heaviest snowfall, possibly greater than eight inches, will be in Western New York near Buffalo.
“In Michigan, the heaviest snow will be southeast of us, in Monroe and Wayne counties,” he said.
The National Weather Service is currently projecting up to three inches of snowfall before midnight on Wednesday, and an additional inch between midnight and noon on Thursday for a total of four inches.
Ben Freed covers business for AnnArbor.com. You can sign up here to receive Business Review updates every week. Reach out to Ben at 734-623-2528 or email him at benfreed@annarbor.com. Follow him on twitter @BFreedinA2
Comments
mike gatti
Thu, Dec 27, 2012 : 2:15 p.m.
My neck hurts from bracing. Come on bracing? Really? Bracing? It was a snowfall. Do you really brace for a modest to middling snowfall? Should I be on alert too. Maybe we should name the snowfall too. I bet we can look back and find a time when thsi would not have been news. I bet we could find time when it snowed and we shoveled and that was it.
Ben Freed
Thu, Dec 27, 2012 : 2:27 p.m.
Mike, While you may not have found this to be newsworthy, a snowstorm that left half a foot of snow as well as a multitude of traffic accidents certainly was on our radar (pardon the pun). I would hope that you were on alert for the storm. Journalists have been covering the local weather for years, and it's a major part of what our readership wants to know about. Hope you enjoyed the snow and didn't have too much shoveling to do. Ben
conundrummy
Wed, Dec 26, 2012 : 6:50 p.m.
If one was paying attention they would notice the missing sky rise next to Cottage Inn located in the background. I immediately noticed this an older photo. Wow it is so obvious!!
leaguebus
Wed, Dec 26, 2012 : 4:43 p.m.
Interesting, my street in AA is a solid sheet of ice. Can't wait to see what does not happen after 5 inches, downtown is good, though. Don't we in the neighborhoods pay the lions share of the city revenues?
jns131
Wed, Dec 26, 2012 : 4:16 p.m.
NORAD and the NWS need to get their radar in check. Although I am looking outside and realizing we are going to get a snowy road. Can't wait to get the new driver out in this. Side roads only. Although I love my all wheel jeep. At least we had some white stuff for Xmas this year. Drive safe everyone.
Barb's Mom
Wed, Dec 26, 2012 : 1:28 p.m.
The National Weather Service needs to update their definition of a "White Christmas". When you can still see the grass through the snow, it isn't a white Christmas as far as I am concerned.
Ed Kimball
Wed, Dec 26, 2012 : 4:25 p.m.
FWIW, the snow did completely (although just barely) cover all of our grass Christmas morning. I suspect other parts of the city may have gotten less snow. And by afternoon, much of it had melted.
Tesla
Wed, Dec 26, 2012 : 4:25 p.m.
You sure you aren't Scrooges Mom? ;)
Kyle Mattson
Wed, Dec 26, 2012 : 1:35 p.m.
It may not have been a foot of snow, but we do live in SE Michigan not the UP so I was happy enough with what we got, at least it was better than the rain and mud we've had the last few years!
brian
Wed, Dec 26, 2012 : 3:28 a.m.
Noooo, think spring. For those of you who cares, only only 38 days until Bill's Hot Dogs opens.
dexterreader
Wed, Dec 26, 2012 : 1:50 p.m.
I live in Dexter and I know about Bill's!! It's equivalent to the A&W opening here in Dexter!
tdw
Wed, Dec 26, 2012 : 11:52 a.m.
brian.....Unless you are from Ypsi I don't think many people know about Bill's
Honest Abe
Tue, Dec 25, 2012 : 8:24 p.m.
I know this much - The article photo was NOT taken any time recently.
Thaddeus
Wed, Dec 26, 2012 : 6:30 p.m.
Put one's cursor arrow over it and it says, "snowstorm_ann_arbor021010.jpg". So from February 2010 would be my guess....
music to my ear
Wed, Dec 26, 2012 : 1:28 a.m.
but inst it preeeeettttty
Homeland Conspiracy
Wed, Dec 26, 2012 : 12:02 a.m.
Doh!
Susan Montgomery
Tue, Dec 25, 2012 : 8:49 p.m.
It does say "file photo" ...