Detroit's Snowiest Winters

[Denny]

Latest updates and news from WXYZ Channel 7 here in Detroit said that we got 1.2 more inches of that "poor man's fertilizer and have now added to our season total." We are still at third place on the all-time list but, now the new number is 78.5 inches for all of 2013-14 and are now just .4 inches away from tying the mark for the 1925-26 winter at 78.9 inches all-time. I am sure we will be going past second place before all this is said and done just so long as we don't get to first place at 93 inches.

[Denny]

Just saw and heard on WXYZ (Channel 7) News here in Detroit at Noon today that MDOT says that they have used for the Winter of 2013-14 more than 400 to 440,000 tons of salt this winter so far. If I heard it correctly, they said also that it has cost them more than 80-120 million plus this winter for salt use and fixing the roads as well. I keep telling my Mom "We just can't afford to have too many more winters like this as it is just too costly!" Just take a look sometime at your expenses and bills and you will find out the hard way what I mean. Then again, everything else is going up in price anyway.

[Guest 5464]

Our present "snow pack" didn't come over night. A few 40 degree days, some rain? Great. That's a nice slow melt; it's not going to flood us out over night.

Yes, until now the melting has been slow, because temps haven't gotten as high as forecast, but that will change. The problem? Areas where there are mountains of snow and covered storm drains. The meltwater has no place to go except over roadways and lawns. I saw that on Sunday, in a town where any heavy downpour floods the streets, even with open drains. Curb-side meltwater was pooling and expanding into both lanes of traffic. When the water freezes overnight, that causes even more driving problems. All of the meltwater must enter streams and rivers on its way to the lakes. So much run-off at once will cause them to overflow their banks for a time, and in many areas across the upper Great Lakes flooding is a real concern.

[BubbaS]

Our present "snow pack" didn't come over night. A few 40 degree days, some rain? Great. That's a nice slow melt; it's not going to flood us out over night.

[ed]

With the temperatures to be above freezing for the next 2-3 days we now face flooding as the snow pack melts. Their calling for rain on Thursday in the Detroit area. Should be a 'very interesting' spring thaw. I'm looking forward to spending a lot of time along the Saint Clair river this spring.

[Denny]

For both middlerouge and Dan McNeil regarding the weather topic, if you go to WXYZ Channel 7 website here in Detroit they are the only station that lists and shows now a 14-Day forecast both on the TV and the internet. They never did it on TV until recently showing 14 days ahead. I don't see how anybody can tell 14 days out on the weather let alone predict what today or tomorrow will be like? My Dad always used to say that "If you want to know what the weather is like, just go and step outside and you will see for yourself!" Heck us boatnerds can predict the weather sometimes better than those clowns can!

[Guest]

Here in Holland, MI we've had over 134 inches of snow for the season and much of that is still with us.

[middlerouge]

I looked at the extended forecast and from what I read atleast for this area snow is still expected till atleast March 22. Dan McNeil

I don't recall if I read it here on boatnerd or elsewhere, but forecasts beyond 48 hrs start to loose their accuracy very fast. anything that is 10 days out changes almost daily

[Timerover51]

Chicago is presently at its 5th snowiest winter in the weather records, at 67.6 inches, and has 0.8 inches to go to reach 4th snowiest (1966-67). Third snowiest is within easy striking distance at 77.0 (1969-70) inches.
I hope that we do not make the 2nd snowiest at 82.3 inches (1977-78) or the snowiest at 89.7 inches in 1978-79. The data is from the Chicago Weather Center of WGN-TV and Tom Skilling. I have been here for all of them, by the way.

[Ohio Bob]

We are just shy of our all-time record in Toledo at 78.3"

[St Crapo]

Denny, here in Indianapolis Indiana as of this past Saturday we have had 52.7 inches of snow, which broke the record for the most snow ever on record here. It's been a very long cold hard winter down here. I looked at the extended forecast and from what I read atleast for this area snow is still expected till atleast March 22. I know a lot will change between now and then but it seems as if old man winter just doesn't want to let go this season. If someone gave me front row tickets behind the Tiger's dugout I'd go to opening day, but that's the only way you would get me to that game on March 31.
Dan McNeil

[Denny]

Latest reports now have the Detroit Snowfall Totals updated as you might expect with last night's storm. Believe it or not we are now up to "third place and no longer in fourth place!" The latest report now shows the 2013-14 winter with just over 77 inches and climbing! Will this winter and all the snow ever end? I have not been up to the St. Clair River since Dec. 7, 2013 and want to see all the ice before it starts to melt. Guess I don't need to be worried or concerned though as this ice is gonna be around for a very long time yet this Spring. Can't wait to see the boats though come March and April trying to go through it. One last note and if you didn't know this by now, the Tigers "Home Opener in Detroit is scheduled for March 31!" Anyone care to play "Snowball instead of Baseball?" Man, you wouldn't get me to that Home Opener then for anything in late March. I don't even want to see pictures of them in Lakeland right now as that is just way too sinful to see.

[Denny]

If you haven't seen this and missed it, WXYZ Channel 7 here in the Detroit area keeps giving a short list of the top five snowiest Winters here in the Detroit area. I have written them down and here are the top five subject to change with our current winter so far. As of February 17, 2014 here is the updated list so far not counting the recent snowstorm we got overnight just yet.

1. 1880-81 = 93.6
2. 1925-26 = 78.9
3. 1981-82 = 74.0
4. 2013-14 = 72.9 = (as of February 17, 2014)
5. 2007-08 = 71.7

At the rate we are going for the 2013-14 winter, we will most likely pass up an move into second place all-time. Let's just hope we don't make it to the top one though as I don't want to see that and I am sure that I speak for most of us that I am not alone on that comment. Anyone else hear how many inches total they have gotten all season such as in the Chicago area or else over in Minnesota, Ohio or in the Indianapolis areas? I am sure that most of you are about the same as Detroit maybe more so than us.