Snow, Cold Ahead This Winter: AccuWeather Long-Range Outlook

MICHIGAN — AccuWeather’s long-range outlook for winter conveys either good or bad news, depending on whether you like snow. Put another way, if you felt cheated by last year’s mild weather, winter could redeem itself.

So, yes, you should be able to ski, snowshoe, take your snowmobile for a spin, ice-fish and do participate in all of the other great winter sports Michigan has to offer. And, no, the golf season probably won’t be extended.

In fact, winter may come early this year and last longer.

Cold air is expected to arrive across the Midwest in late November and remain entrenched. Coupled with warmer waters over the Great Lakes, that could mean an early start to the lake-effect season, AccuWeather said

“I do feel we're going to kick this season off pretty quick, especially the western lakes. But I think even the eastern lakes will get involved and it will extend all the way out to January,” AccuWeather Long-Range Forecaster Paul Pastelok said.

Pastelok said developing snowpack in early December should contribute to an even colder winter, with temperatures averaging 6 to 9 degrees lower overall than last winter.

“ ...There are going to be some nights, especially if there's snow cover in the heart of winter, that could get down to 20 or 30 below …,” Pastelok said. However, areas like International Falls and Duluth in Minnesota and parts of the Dakotas.

Though winter is coming, it’s not here yet. Expect highs in the upper 70s to near 80 through Friday before a cool-down arrives for the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
But no, it won’t snow. Crisp fall-like temperatures and sunny skies are in the forecast for the weekend.

Photo by Mike Gifford via Flickr Commons