What you need to know about Michigan’s Christmas outlook

On December 19, 2024By Littum

Christmas is just days away and many in Michigan are wondering if Ol’ Saint Nick’s sleigh will have snow for his sleigh this year.

The answer across Michigan depends a bit on where you are.

The National Weather Service says some regions could see lake effect snow, though Michigan is not currently set for a major white Christmas this year despite a period of cold, snowy days in the week leading up to the holiday.

The National Weather Service’s 6-10 day outlook, which includes the week of Christmas, shows that temperatures in Michigan should be normal to slightly above normal. The rainfall outlook for that period is slightly drier than normal.

Here’s what the NWS says about the Christmas forecast.

Will it snow in Detroit for Christmas?

Detroit currently has a low chance of snow this Christmas, the NWS office in White Lake said.

When was the last time Detroit saw snow this Christmas?

Detroit got 2.1 inches of new snow on Christmas Day in 2022, the weather service said. Of course, much of Michigan had snow that year as one big storm hit the state that week.

Will it snow in Northern Michigan for Christmas?

The Gaylord NWS office is currently predicting a slightly above average chance of precipitation for Christmas. The area has approx 9 inches of snow on the ground, so it will likely continue into next week.

When was the last time northern Michigan saw snow at Christmas?

The Gaylord area saw 2.9 inches of new snow on Christmas Day in 2022, the weather service reported.

Will it snow in West Michigan for Christmas?

The Grand Rapids NWS office said there is currently a low chance of rain, with snow unlikely, this Christmas. Snow is forecast through Friday, but the current seven-day forecast calls for temperatures in the mid to upper 30s over Christmas.

When was the last time West Michigan saw snow at Christmas?

The Grand Rapids the area saw 2.7 inches of new snow on Christmas Day in 2022, the weather service said. ONE blizzard tthe hat hit earlier that week in 2022 dumped 24.5 inches on the area, the NWS said.

Will it snow in Lansing for Christmas?

The The Lansing area has a low chance rain this Christmas, with snow looking unlikely, the weather service in Grand Rapids said.

When was the last time Lansing saw snow at Christmas?

The Lansing area saw 0.9 inches of new snow on Christmas Day in 2022, the weather service said, but the area already had more than 10 inches on the ground from 2022 blizzard.

Is it going to snow in the Upper Peninsula for Christmas?

Although the forecast for the Marquette area does not currently predict major snowstorms, the region could see lake-effect snow this Christmas, as of Marquette NWS office.

In Sault Ste. Marie, the Christmas precipitation forecast leans slightly above average, the NWS in Gaylord said. The area already has 13 inches on the groundsaid the NWS.

When was the last time the Upper Peninsula saw snow at Christmas?

The Marquette area saw 1.7 inches of new snow on Christmas Day 2022, according to the NWS.

In Sault Sainte Marie, Christmas Day 2022 brought 13.8 inches of new snow, the weather service said.

Will it snow in Port Huron and thumb for Christmas?

The weather service’s Detroit/Pontiac office said the Christmas snow outlook for Port Huron is low and the thumb is currently low. However, the region may see a snow effect on the lake if a cold air front moves in.

When did Port Huron and the Thumb last see snow at Christmas?

Port Huron got 2 inches of new snow on Christmas Day 2020, the weather service said.

Contact Jenna Prestininzi: [email protected].