Rick Shields Ag Weather 2-23-10

There’s cold air headed our way off the Canadian prairies in about a day but readings in our part of the world aren’t headed for the basement by any means.  There will be a frontal passage from the north Tuesday night into Wednesday but the National Weather Service is still calling for highs in the upper twenties to around thirty for the rest of the week.

While there’s no doubt it is winter even Monday’s snowstorm seems tame compared to the kind of weather Southwest Michigan was experiencing this week in 1990.  Twenty years ago a blizzard hit the area with hurricane force winds and five foot snow drifts in some locations.  The Michigan AAA records show a near-record five thousand traffic accidents reported in one day.  There’s no doubt about it – late winter can be a lot rougher that we’re seeing it this year.

You can expect accumulating snow to the tune of three or four inches west of US 131 into Wednesday with an inch or less further east.

A chance of snow remains in the outlook through the balance of the week and into the weekend but additional accumulations are expected to be small.