Old Farmer’s Almanac Maps Out Michigan’s March Weather Swings

Michigan winter has been doing the absolute most recently here. From brutal cold snaps, heavy snow, and the whole... Florida is sounding good right now. The Old Farmer's Almanac dropped it's outlook, and I think all of us here in Michigan are ready to listen for what may be in store.

Spring Starts March 20 But Here’s the Preview

Spring officially starts on March 20, but the Almanac says that we might get a little preview before that. The long-range predictions use things like historical weather patterns, solar cycles, and meteorology, and they claim around 80% accuracy overall, which for us here in Michigan, means basically a flip of the coin.

The Almanac’s Michigan Timeline Through March

Here is a quick and dirty timeline they're calling for Michigan through the end of March.

• Feb 9–17: rainy and warm
• Feb 18–28: rain/snow showers; mild, then turning chilly
• Mar 1–7: snowy; chilly, then milder
• Mar 8–13: lake-effect snow east, flurries west; colder
• Mar 14–18: sunny and warmer (finally)
• Mar 19–28: showers, then very warm
• Mar 29–31: sunny, but cooler again (because of course) (103.3 WKFR)

Looking ahead to April and May, the Almanac is leaning with warmer than normal weather for most of Michigan and the Great Lakes region. Rainfall is expected to run below normal in the eastern part of the state and above normal for the westside. The one asterisk: northern Michigan and the U.P. could stay a touch cooler, with rainfall close to normal.

READ MORE: Dangerous Cold Could Cause Frost Quakes in Michigan

And nobody can predict Michigan weather 100%, it's not always a science. We've all seen the "sunny" forecast turn sideways very quickly. But if this plays out even halfway, it means we're inching toward patio season, muddy driveway season, and crack a window without regretting it.