News File Photo Roads in downtown Alpena are covered with snow in this November 2023 News archive photo.

ALPENA –The Alpena area had a snowy November in 2022, but last month’s snowfall was well below the long-term average.

In November of 2022, Alpena received 12.5 inches of snow, but last month, Alpena only received 3.9 inches which was below the 6.6 inch long-term average.

All of the snow was received on Nov. 26 and 27 when 1.9 inches of snow was recorded at the Alpena County Regional Airport.

The month started cooler than average, but a mid-month warm spell led to the month ending with temperatures only three-tenths of a degree below the 36.6-degree average.

According to the monthly preliminary climatology report, the National Weather Service said the warmest day of last month was Nov. 16 when the mercury peaked at 63 degrees. The coldest temperature, 17 degrees, was recorded twice on Nov. 27 and 28.

Temperatures in Alpena are forecasted to warm again this weekend, as people in Alpena who haven’t hung Christmas decorations in their yards can expect temperatures to peak in the mid-40s.

Keith Berger, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Gaylord, said the ongoing El Nino is expected to produce a more mild winter according to the long-term 90-day forecast. He said that does not mean Alpena won’t receive snow or bursts of arctic air in the coming weeks and months.

“That forecast doesn’t take into account things like Lake Huron and the effect it has on snowfall or individual storms,” he said. “We will have snow and there will be cold, but it just may not be as much over the long haul.”

Lake effect snow off of Lake Huron could become more prevalent if the lake doesn’t freeze over this winter, Berger said.

Berger had good news for people who hope for a white Christmas. He said the meteorologists in Gaylord did a poll amongst themselves to see how many think there would be an inch or more of snow on the ground for Christmas Day, and he said about 60% of them predicted the ground would be white.

“Let’s just say, the law of averages say we’ll have a white Christmas more often than not,” Berger said. “If I was a betting man, I would bet there would be a white Christmas, but I would also lose my bet about 40% of the time. Still, the odds are good that we’ll have snow.”