We all love the crisp colors and easygoingness of autumn—but we know what comes next: a long, gray, and often intense winter.
This year, the autumn season seemed to show up “fashionably late”—the leaves took their time, with colors changing later than expected. (All due to above average, warmer temperatures.)
While these warmer temps lingered, allowing us to live out the fleeting summer days, they set the stage for the very nature of this upcoming winter season: colder, snowier, and stormier.
It seems like some meteorologists are hinting that West Michigan could be in for a more intense winter season than we’ve seen in a while.
The Pacific Ocean is currently flirting with a weak La Niña pattern, which is known for its colder air and heavier snowfall drifting in from the Great Lakes. If you combine that with our beloved Holland’s lakeshore location—yep, lake effect snow could be back in full force.
What You Can Expect
The NOAA’s Seasonal Outlook reveals a more intense winter season, whereas the Great Lakes will experience “wetter-than-average,” cooler conditions. To translate that into Michigander terms, this means more heavy snow to shovel, more slippery slush on the roads, more days off school, and possibly some “ice days” too. If they’re right, be sure to purchase that much-needed parka ahead of time. (You’re gonna need it.)
The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts a mild, “usual” winter sequence, with “pockets of wild!” It provides notice for a greater frequency of cold snaps and snowstorms. As Michiganders, we’re kind of already used to this. So it’s barely anything new of note. But we must be careful not to assume that “mild” actually translates into “mild.” Because for us, “mild” means the usual bipolarity of weather conditions. From one optimistic, sunny afternoon where snow melts off rooftops into glittering streams, to a blistering blizzard the very next morning—it’s hard to say what the word mild even means anymore.
One thing we know for certain is that our past seasons say not to underestimate the lake.
With less ice cover and plenty of cold air passing through, Holland could easily see above-average snowfall totals—the kind that makes you question whether to shovel the driveway twice a day or let it build up and deal with it later.
What Do The Caterpillars Say?
The well-known Woolly Bear Caterpillars are apparently a tell-tale sign of the upcoming winter season’s nature.
If the black bands on the caterpillar are wider, this means a harsher upcoming winter.
If the orange band is wider, this means a milder winter.
Though science doesn’t necessarily back this up, it’s still a fun tradition. So the next time you see one of these critters crawling across your driveway or up the porch screen, make sure to check the width of its colors.
Some Say We’ll Have More Than One Winter
It’s predicted that we will have two phases of winter—a “second wave of deep winter” they call it. We’ll have a rough patch followed by a mild break and then another rough patch.
But who's to say this is all correct?
While we can’t predict every flake, one thing is clear: this winter in Holland will keep us on our toes—and probably knee-deep in snow.
Make sure to have a warm hot cocoa available at all times, stash a pair of mittens in the glove box of your car, and maybe start giving your kiddos an allowance for shoveling the driveway. (Because there will be plenty of snow to go around and you’re definitely not going to want to be out there by yourself every evening.)
Stay warm this winter.
And good luck to all of you Hollanders.
Sierra Ozolins is a West Michigan native, currently a student at Hope College. As an athlete, she is passionate about fitness—from running to weightlifting. With a interest for politics and lifestyle, she is intrigued how local culture, community, and everyday events shape the world around her—often with an iced coffee in hand and her dog by her side.
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