Snow in May in Michigan - It's Not as Unusual As You May Think

If April showers bring May flowers, then what does May snow bring? Consternation? Anxiety? Snowfall in Michigan in the month of May is unexpected, but maybe not as crazy as you might think.

From Less Than an Inch to 18 Inches

The calendar says May, but the forecast calls for snow. How much snowfall we could get varies widely depending on where you are, of course, but there's no denying we're in for precipitation that could fall in flake form.

In Southern Michigan, rain and snow could develop this evening (5/1), transition to all snow overnight, and then mix once again with rain on /Tuesday. Total snow accumulation is expected to be less than an inch.

But it's a different story in Northern Michigan. According to the National Weather Service, parts of Michigan's Upper Peninsula are under a Winter Storm Warning through Tuesday (5/2) at 11 am. Residents of Baraga and Marquette Counties can expect six to 18 inches of snow, which could make travel difficult and even cause power outages.

The Biggest May Snowfall in Southern Michigan

While the Lower Peninsula historically hasn't seen as much snow as Michigan's beautiful north, there have been some doozies in Southern Michigan.

By far the biggest snowfall in Lower Michigan happened in 1923 when the Flint area saw 12 inches of snow on May 9. That storm produced record-breaking snowfall with cities such as Muskegon, Detroit, Bay City, and Lansing all getting between five and 11.5 inches of snowfall.

Mlive reports that Flint has seen six snowy day sin May since the National Weather Service began keeping track. Detroit and Saginaw have recorded eight while Lansing and Grand Rapids have each had 10.

May Snow in Recent Years

May of 2020 is now on record for being one of the snowiest Mays, tied for the fourth snowiest May on record.

And the Record Goes to May 22

And let's not forget the latest snowfall in May. In 2016, the Metro Detroit area recorded a trace of snow at Metro airport on May 14 and 15. That, however, is not a record. In order to track the latest snowfall in the month of May, we have to go all the way back to 1883 when five inches of snow blanketed the Detroit area on May 21 and 22, making May 22nd as the latest date for measurable snowfall in the state of Michigan.

These Weather Memes Are Pure Michigan

These Michigan weather memes are the best of the best.

The House That Cereal Built - Step Inside the Kellogg Mansion

Taking a peek into the Kellogg Mansion is like stepping back in time. The home, built in 1925 was originally known as the Villa Marina in Dunedin Isles.

William Kellogg, who founded the Michigan-based Kellogg's company only lived in the sprawling mansion for about three years (during the winter months) before his death in 1951. Eventually, the home succumbed to structural damage and was demolished a few years ago.

In addition to the photos below, you can take a virtual tour of the home using virtual reality. A news story highlighting the University of Florida's program is included below.