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Potential for severe cold unlikely in Great Lakes

An ag meteorologist says this winter has been one of the warmest on record for some Great Lakes states.

State climatologist for Michigan Jeff Andresen tells Brownfield an upper air pattern across North America has brought colder than normal temperatures to the western half of the continent and warmer than normal to the east.

“Our January was the third warmest on record since 1895, more than 10 degrees Fahrenheit above normal—all of the winter months thus far have been warmer than normal,” he says.

Andresen says temperatures in the region during March should be cold enough for overwintering crops, like wheat and fruit trees, to remain dormant until later in spring.

“We don’t see any severe cold, but still cold enough weather to keep those crops quiet and from any further development,” he says.

Andresen says a forecast wetter than normal is on the horizon for the Great Lakes and could interfere with planting.