Percentages say it?ll be a white Christmas in county

It’ll more than likely be a white Christmas in northern Michigan, according to statistics compiled by the National Weather Service, and the past few years’ weather patterns have nothing to do with the outlook for December 25. According to meteorologist Mike Proud from the NWS regional headquarters near Gaylord, there is an 83 percent chance of a white Christmas. “This is over many years of statistics,” said Proud Monday during a telephone interview. The statistics were collected at Alpena County Regional Airport, the closest reporting weather station to Presque Isle County. The 83 percent figure would be for an inch or more of white stuff on the ground.

“THERE IS a 47 percent chance that we would have five inches or more on the ground and a 13 percent chance of 10 inches or more,” said Proud. Figures of the last Christmas without snow were not readily available. Two weather systems moved across northeast Michigan last week and created treacherous driving conditions for Thanksgiving travelers. But that is not a trend that is expected to continue.

Combined, the two storms brought between two to three inches of snow to Presque Isle County. Posen reportedly received two-and-a-half inches of snow on Thanksgiving eve, while Rogers City had about an inch on the ground. Most of the heavy snow fell in the southern part of the state. Ionia and Grandville reported more than seven inches.

The storm front cut a line right through the county, because as heavy snow was falling on southeastern Presque Isle County, Onaway dodged the snowflakes and roads were dry.

THE SECOND system started as rain Saturday and turned to snow during the night, making the drive to church Sunday morning, or for travelers looking to get a head start on their trip home, a littl

e slippery. Again, Posen had a little more snow than many areas with one-and-a-half inches of powder. Rogers City had an inch from Sunday’s storm and two-and-a-half inches during the holiday weekend, according to Rogers City weather spotter Wally Roeske. “The next week doesn’t look very stormy,” said Proud. “We are going to have a couple of weak systems pass through with lake effect snow for probably the northwest lower (peninsula) and the eastern upper peninsula.” Near normal temperatures and slightly less precipitation are expected in the long term forecast, according to Proud.

THE NORMAL high temperature for today is 35 degrees, while the normal low is 22. By the end of December the normal high will be 28 degrees, while the normal low will be 12. The snowiest December of the last 16 years was in 2000 when 61.75 inches of snow fell, according to data collected at the Presque Isle County Road Commission. Last year, 21 inches fell in December.