Winter has definitely been flexing in Metro Detroit this season, and the numbers tell the story. – Winter has definitely been flexing in Metro Detroit this season, and the numbers tell the story.
So far, 33.9 inches of snow have fallen at Detroit Metro Airport. That includes 5.9 inches in November, 10.9 inches in December, and 17.1 inches in January through Jan. 29.
January typically averages about 14 inches of snow, making this the snowiest January since 2014.
That reference year still stands out. January 2014 brought 39.1 inches of snow and was part of the snowiest winter on record, when 94.9 inches fell during the 2013 to 2014 season.
This winter is nowhere near that historic level, but it is clearly running ahead of a typical pace.
On average, Detroit’s first measurable snowfall happens around Nov. 16, and the last one comes around April 7.
That puts us about halfway through the snow season. With 33.9 inches already recorded compared with a seasonal average of 45 inches, Metro Detroit has picked up about three-quarters of what a normal winter delivers.
February through April usually bring another 20 inches of snow.
It has not just been snowy.
It has been cold, too. Through Jan. 29, Metro Detroit’s average temperature for January was 21.3 degrees, which is 4.4 degrees below normal. December also finished colder than average.
A typical January high is around 32 degrees, with lows near 19.
This winter has also featured big temperature swings. Metro Detroit reached a record high of 60 degrees on Jan. 9.
Just two weeks later, on Jan. 24, the high was only seven degrees, and the low dropped to minus 10 degrees, just three degrees shy of the daily record.
Why are we seeing such cold weather if the planet is warming?
A colder or snowier winter in Metro Detroit does not contradict global warming.
Climate change looks at long-term global trends, not what happens in one season or one region.
While the planet continues to warm overall, that warming can disrupt weather patterns and allow Arctic air to spill south more often.
In other words, a warming planet does not eliminate cold winters.
It can lead to greater variability, with larger swings between warm and cold and more extreme conditions.
So what can we expect for the rest of the season?
Outlooks for early to mid-February point toward another push of colder-than-normal air across the eastern United States, including the Great Lakes.
That means more chances for Arctic shots, sharp cold snaps and periods of dangerous wind chills.
At the same time, precipitation odds are above normal for the Ohio Valley and parts of the eastern U.S., keeping the door open for more snow.
Later in February, temperatures may moderate at times, but the overall pattern still favors swings rather than steady weather.
That means bursts of cold, brief thaws, and more opportunities for snow.
Bottom line, this winter has already been colder and snowier than average, and the outlook suggests it is more likely to finish with more extremes than with anything close to normal.