Snow and More Snow in Michigan

GRAND HAVEN, Mich. -- No, it's not a joke, nor are we dreaming. Michigan got three inches of snow yesterday, on April 18. It melted, but we are getting more snow, as we speak. And what does my desktop weather forecast show? Still more snow, icy, freezing rain and "wintry mix."

Yesterday, the temperature spiked in a 45 degree heatwave. Today, the mercury is struggling to hit 36 degrees. Yes, it's almost Easter. Yes, we're in the third week of April. Yes, Earth Day is almost here.

My weather forecast looks like an icon menu. There's a least one of every kind of weather displaying for the next few days: cloudy, partly cloudy, cloudy with rain, cloudy with snow, thunderstorms, sleet and freezing rain. The only icon I'm lacking is tornado (touch wood). Michigan's weather needs to make up its mind. You can't have it both ways; thunderstorms and snow storms.

My father-in-law always said that "nothing is settled, weather-wise, in Michigan, until Easter". I objected when my husband reminded me of dad's words. Easter varies from year to year, I said. It can fall anywhere from the third week in March to the third week in April.

How could the weather reflect a floating holiday? We've often had snow on Easter morning. That was in the years when if fell in late March or maybe early April. Snow in April is not at all uncommon in Michigan. In 1996, we had a terrible storm that took the power out for much of Spring Break.

In winter 2010-2011, we had a decent amount of snow. No great shakes, for Michigan, but a respectable three to four feet. We had a good cold winter, too. Meteorologists have been using the term "wintry mix" to describe the weather; I call it a Super-sized Rain and Snow Combo with a side of ice.

It's spring 2011 that will live in infamy however. We've barely had any 60 degree days yet. The trees are barely budding. Our daffodils and jonquils have gotten frozen out. We never even saw crocuses to speak of. The robins have returned but the cold weather has kept them quiet and nest-bound.

New sleet, snow and ice storms and melting winter snow, our rivers are flooding, too. Hopefully all this cold and ice won't damage plants. With the weather in an ongoing tennis match between between rain and snow storms at least we are getting decent amount of precipitation. Yeah for the crops, boo for driving and cabin fever.

Easter isn't until April 24 this year. If we have to wait until nearly May to be done with winter for 2011, I'm moving to Madagascar.

Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben is an avid weather-watcher and storm chaser. Living on the big lake in Michigan, she has plenty of opportunity to do both.