Ron Hilliard: It’s the centennial anniversary of an unusual May snowstorm in Michigan

4Warn Climate – Regular highs are round 70 levels, and common lows are round 50 levels by mid-Might in Michigan. Moreover a couple of exceptions, we’re going right into a stretch of near-normal climate.

So, snow shouldn’t be within the forecast this time.

However, it was firstly of the month.

Rain and snow have been noticed at Detroit Metro and Flint Bishop airports on Might 1 and Might 2 this 12 months. Throughout that very same 2-day interval, Marquette — the Higher Peninsula’s largest metropolis — picked up greater than two toes of snow (26.2 inches), based on the Nationwide Climate Service.

It has snowed in Michigan as late into the spring season as late Might. How late precisely?

The newest measurable snowfall recorded in Detroit was on Might 22, 1883, when 2.7 inches fell. Simply over 2 inches had fallen the day before today for a 2-day whole of 5 inches.

In Flint, half of an inch fell on Might 26, 1961. The newest date that any snowflakes fell on the Detroit space was Might 31, 1910.

So, what is critical about Might 9?

It’s the newest date of the season that Southeast Michigan collected a minimum of a foot of snow.

On Might 9, 1923, a complete of 12 inches fell in Flint, 9 inches in Saginaw, and 6 inches in Detroit. North and west of Detroit, some 6-9 inches fell within the Ann Arbor space, Howell, Pontiac, and Port Huron.

Based on data maintained by the NWS, the snowstorm precipitated “widespread harm” to timber, energy strains, and poles. The snow was reportedly all passed by the subsequent night.

In different phrases, Might 9 is the centennial of a really uncommon day in Southeast Michigan’s climate historical past. Rejoice safely.