snow squalls & snow daze!

Snow squalls at the Straits by Paula Liimatta

Snow squalls at the Straits by Paula Liimatta

mLive’s Tanda Gmiter shares that the cold front rolling into Michigan is packing a powerful punch:

Snow squalls are in the forecast across Michigan as a cold front rushes in, beginning today and lasting into Thursday. Drivers should be aware, as these can be a serious hazard if you’re out on the road when a squall whips up. Snow squalls cause white-out conditions and can leave roads icy. They are forecast to develop in West Michigan this afternoon, then over a several-hour period tonight in Southeast Michigan as a strong cold front arrives, National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists in the Grand Rapids and Detroit offices said. The front is expected to spark some rapidly-changing weather conditions.

Paula got this shot of snow squalls buffeting the Mighty Mackinac Bridge back in January of 2018. See more in her Winter 2017 gallery including this reminder than for all its problems, snow can be SUPER FUN!!!

Snow Daze by paula liimatta

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Mr Coyote

Mr Coyote by Mark Smith

Coyotes are found in every county in Michigan, something I learned on a Christmas Day 2019 bike ride in Detroit when a coyote & I surprised each other on the eastside! The Michigan DNR shares a little bit about living with coyotes in Michigan, including the fact that it is critical for their well being as well as the safety of our pets & farm animals that they retain their natural fear of people. To do this:

Eliminate outside food sources like garbage or pet food

Clear out brush piles that provide hiding places for small mammals and birds

And for sure keep small pets indoors or accompany them outside!

If you do see an unwanted coyote in your area, you can try to scare it off by yelling, clapping or making other loud noises.

Most coyotes are afraid of people and will leave if you frighten them, but if they don’t leave, remember that they are wild animals and also be aware that there are coyote/wolf crossbreeds in Michigan known as “coywolf” and they are a whole different beast!

Mark shared this photo back in 2016, saying that Mr. Coyote paid a visit to their house looking for Mr. Pussycat, who was smartly hiding under the coffee table! Follow @downstreamer7 on Instagram for Mark’s latest!

PS: Here’s a shot of a coyote pup I took years ago.

Coyote Pup by Andrew McFarlane

Coyote Pup by Andrew McFarlane

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NOAA’s Michigan 2024-2025 Winter Outlook

Chill Out by PeeblesPair

Chill Out by PeeblesPair

I’ve been hanging onto this post so long I was worried we’d have snow before I shared it!! The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released their seasonal outlook for Winter 2024-2025 which says (in part):

This winter, NOAA predicts wetter-than-average conditions for the entire northern tier of the continental U.S., particularly in the Pacific Northwest and the Great Lakes region, along with northern and western Alaska.

“This winter, an emerging La Nina is anticipated to influence the upcoming winter patterns, especially our precipitation predictions,” said Jon Gottschalck, chief of the Operational Prediction Branch of the Climate Prediction Center. La Nina conditions are expected to develop later this fall and typically lead to a more northerly storm track during the winter months, leaving the southern tier of the country warmer and drier.

Rae took this photo at Point Betsie Lighthouse on January 1st of this year. Follow her on Flickr & on Instagram for more!

The 2024-2025 U.S. Winter Outlook map for temperature shows the greatest chances for cooler-than-average conditions in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. (Image credit: NOAA)

The 2024-2025 U.S. Winter Outlook map for precipitation shows wetter-than-average conditions are most likely across the Great Lakes region of the U.S.. Drier-than-average conditions are forecast for parts of the U.S. Gulf Coast. (Image credit: NOAA)

The 2024-2025 U.S. Winter Outlook map for precipitation shows wetter-than-average conditions are most likely across the Great Lakes region of the U.S.. Drier-than-average conditions are forecast for parts of the U.S. Gulf Coast. (Image credit: NOAA)

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Crowdsourcing the UFO Enigma

UFO Leaving Henderson Castle by William Dolak

Axios Detroit takes a nice look at an app for UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) & UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon) reporting developed by Enigma Labs. The artificial intelligence app generates a score as to the likelihood that user-submitted photos are something truly unidentifiable or just a plane, satellite or other known object (hint: most of these are the deeply freaky Starlink satellite clusters).

UFO researcher Alejandro Rojas says the app aims to crowdsource as much information as possible because the government typically lacks enough data to study these anomalies. Michiganders have submitted 526 sightings since the app launched last year which is good for 9th most UFO friendly state in the nation. Check the map out below, and if you have an iPhone & want to check it out (or get on the Android waitlist) head over to the Enigma website.

Bill took this photo ten winters ago at Kalamazoo’s Henderson Castle. See more in his absolutely massive Kalamazoo, Michigan gallery on Flickr.

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Wave Goodbye to Winter Wonderland

Michigan's Winter Wonderland by TP Mann

Michigan’s Winter Wonderland by TP Mann

Most of Michigan will see highs in the 50s or 60s today and while there’s (of course) still some snow & subzero temps ahead, the temperature trend is most definitely UP!!

TP took this shot of the Mighty Mackinac Bridge in late February. See more in his Michigan Winter Scenes gallery on Flickr!

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Geared up for the photo

Intrepid MK2 8x10 at Lake Superior by Kirt E Carter

Intrepid MK2 8×10 at Lake Superior by Kirt E Carter

Here’s a sweet shot large-format, black & white shot of Kirt’s rig for a recent photo shoot at Little Girl’s Point on Lake Superior near the Michigan/Wisconsin border. You can see more on Flickr & for sure check out his website to view & purchase his work! 

More black & white photography on Michigan in Pictures & you can click to read more about the Intrepid MK2 8×10 camera.

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Ice Cave Sunrise

Grand Island Ice Cave Sunrise by Michigan Nut Photography

Grand Island Ice Cave Sunrise by Michigan Nut Photography

Incredible shot from inside an ice cave on Lake Superior’s Grand Island taken last weekend. You can check out another on John’s Facebook page and view & purchase his work at michigannutphotography.com

More photos & information at the Grand Island tag on Michigan in Pictures!

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Good morning from Lake Erie’s only Michigan State Park!

Lake Erie Sunrise by Charles Hildebrandt

Lake Erie Sunrise by Charles Hildebrandt

Charles took this photo over the weekend at William C. Sterling State Park in Monroe, which Pure Michigan says is Michigan’s only state park on Lake Erie. The 1300-acre park at the mouth of Sandy Creek is known for walleye fishing and also offers lakefront camping, 7 miles of trails, and over a mile of sandy beach.

Head over to Charles’s Flickr for his latest & have a great week everyone!

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Pebble with a view

Pebble on the beach by Mark Swanson

Pebble on the beach by Mark Swanson

I don’t know the technical term for the process that creates these pebbles on pedestals on sandy beaches in the winter, but I do know I love it!

Mark took this photo last week on Silver Beach in St. Joseph. See more in his 2022 gallery on Flickr.

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Another UP 200 in the books!

Off to the Races by UP 200 Sled Dog Race

Off to the Races by Hannah Frames Moments

The annual UP 200, Midnight Run, and Jack Pine 30 Sled Dog races took place in Marquette & the surrounding area last weekend. They share that musher Ryan Anderson of Cushing, WI finished first in the 228-mile UP200 Dog Sled Race followed by Wade Marrs & Nick Vigilante. Michael Bestgen & Joanna Oberg had the top 2 finishes in the 82-mile Midnight Run, and Erin Schouweiler was the top finisher in the Jack Pine 30.

Get all the results at UP200.org.

The photo was taken by Hannah Wescott. You can see a bunch more on her Facebook page & for sure head over to her website to view & purchase her work!

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