MI Chances For A Snowy Christmas, Travel Forecast

MICHIGAN — Michiganders will see few weather disruptions for travel this holiday season as temperatures warm up this week, making a white Christmas unlikely this year, according to AccuWeather forecasters.

There has to be at least an inch of snow on the ground by 7 a.m. on Dec. 25 for it to a white Christmas, and not only is that unlikely in the metro Detroit area, but also up north and even the Upper Peninsula, according to AccuWeather forecasters.

Despite a snow burst that dumped a few inches of fresh snow along the Lake Michigan shoreline Monday, Tuesday will be the only day of the week that feels like December in Michigan, with temperatures staying in the low 30s, according to AccuWeather forecasters.

After Tuesday, temperatures in the metro Detroit area and most of Michigan will steadily warm toward the 50s under a fairly dry week, according to AccuWeather forecasters.

The only chance for wet weather during the week in Michigan is Friday, and AccuWeather forecasters expect rain showers with little to no snow. Only the Marquette and Ishpeming areas in the Upper Peninsula may get a trace of snow by Christmas Day, according to AccuWeather forecasters.

One of the biggest reasons for the milder temperatures and lack of snow is the El Niño weather pattern, which is driving patterns away from the Midwest and Great Lakes, according to forecasters.

Last year, there were 3 inches of snow on the ground on Christmas Day across most of Michigan, and an additional 2 inches fell on that day. In 2020, there was an inch of snow on the ground, and in 2017, there was 5 inches of snow on the ground on Christmas Day.

But in 2021, 2019 and 2018, there was no snow on the ground on Christmas Day.

The highest recorded temperature on Christmas Day in Michigan was set in 1982, when temperatures reached 64 degrees. The next year was then the coldest on record, when temperatures dropped to 10 below zero. The most snow on the ground on Christmas Day was in 1951 when there was 13 inches on the ground.