Snow is making a big comeback in Michigan this year, with more to come

This winter, snowfall is heavier and more frequent than last year
Snowfall totals across parts of northern Michigan are above average so far this winter
Reduced ice cover on the Great Lakes and a return of the climate pattern known as La Niña have contributed to the snowier weather

It’s beginning to look like a Michigan winter — finally.

The snowflakes are coming down heavier and more often than last year, meaning more trips outside to shovel the driveway and more chances to hit the slopes — and the forecast is calling for another round of snow to blanket the Mitten State this week.

So far this year, snowfall totals across northern Michigan are above average, the complete opposite of last year, when the lack of snowfall caused drought-like conditions that hampered many businesses in the region that rely on winter revelers.

There’s still more than five weeks of winter left, yet some parts of the state have already blown past their seasonal snowfall averages. So far, Sault Ste. Marie has received nearly 160 inches of snowfall this season, which is 185% above the normal average of about 85 inches. Gaylord has also had heavy snowfall this season: 154 inches, 146% above its average of about 105 inches.

On the other hand, metro Detroit has received about 16 inches of snowfall, which is about 13 inches below normal, according to Steven Freitag, meteorologist for the National Weather Service’s Detroit office.

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Grand Rapids has received about 55 inches of snowfall which is only 2 inches below average, Freitag said.

More snow is to come as a storm is expected to impact all of southern Michigan and parts of northern Michigan beginning Wednesday evening. Between 4 and 8 inches is expected and snow could fall up to 1 inch per hour.

Return of La Niña

Meteorologists say one reason for the snowier winter is the return of the climate pattern known as La Niña, when cooler waters in the Pacific push the jet stream further north, bringing with it colder and stormier-than-average conditions.

On top of that, there’s lake-effect snow. Lake effect snow occurs when cool moisture in the atmosphere mixes with warm water above lakes. Ice coverage has remained relatively low on the Great Lakes this year, and less ice coverage can mean more intense lake effect snow.

“If the water is warm and obviously unfrozen, and the air is cold and dry … warm water with cold air on top of it and some wind is a prescription for snow,” said Richard Rood, co-principal investigator for the Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessments, a collaboration between the University of Michigan, Michigan State and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.