Alpena set snowfall, two temperature records in December
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ALPENA -- December was a record-setting month weather-wise in Alpena, as the area set two records for high temperatures and another for snowfall.
According to the National Weather Service, the month was the 10th warmest December on record.
Overall, residents in Northeast Michigan experienced well-above-average temperatures and more snow than normal.
The month started out with a bang, as Alpena recorded 10.7 inches of snow at the Alpena County Regional Airport on Dec. 5, which eclipsed the previous record of 3.8 inches for that date in 1955.
The snow didn't stay on the ground long. About a week later, an unseasonably warm pattern moved in the area and pushed temperatures into the 50s and even 60 degrees.
The first high temperature record to fall was on Dec. 11, when the mercury climbed to 50 degrees and eclipsed the previous record of 49 degrees in 2015. After several days above 50 degrees, another record was surpassed when it reached 60 degrees on Dec. 16 in Alpena. The benchmark beat the former record from 1984 when there was a high temperature of 57 degrees.
The warm spell melted the snow and left the ground bare.
The average high temperature for the month was 37 degrees, which easily beat the long term average of 33.6 degrees, while the overall average low temperature was 29.9 degrees, which topped the 26.6 average.
The coldest day of the month preceded the warm spell, as the thermometer recorded a reading of 8 degrees at the airport on Dec. 8.
For the month, there was a total of 21.3 inches of snow that fell, which was more than the 16.9 inch average for the month.
The warm weather is not in the rearview mirror, as Old Man Winter has settled in and brought with him more winter-like temperatures.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Tim Locker, who works at the Gaylord post, said there is a chance for some light snow Wednesday into Thursday, but then temperatures plummet. He said people should not expect mild temperatures like Alpena had last month.
"With the windchill, Alpena should see windchill temperatures in the single-digits during the day and near zero at night," Locker said. "I think, for the most part, the cold temperatures are here to stay now."
Looking a little further out, Locker said, there is a chance of freezing rain and snow, along with strong winds, the weekend of Jan. 15. He said temperatures will warm somewhat and precipitation will teeter between rain, freezing rain, and snow.
"It looks like it will be a quick burst of bad weather and definitely looks like it could be a windmaker," he said. "It is still a long way off, but it is something to keep an eye on."