Snowfall of the century for Detroit on Groundhog Day

I concluded Winter Storm Linus set to blanket Detroit by observing about the storm "if it lasts as long, snows as much, and gets as cold as the current forecast predicts, I doubt I'll be going to work on Monday."  Sure enough, I'm home from work today.  As for Winter Storm Linus, it was even worse than forecast, as the Detroit Free Press reported an hour ago in Metro Detroit digs out from area's 3rd-biggest snowstorm.

The third-biggest snowstorm in metro Detroit's recorded history has plows humming among tall snow piles on roadways across southeastern Michigan this morning.

Most metro-area schools and colleges are closed, including Wayne State University, University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University.

By 9 a.m., the storm had cleared, leaving blue skies with bitter cold. Temperatures have already peaked at about 18 degrees and are to stick in the mid-teens this morning, said meteorologist Cory Behnke with the National Weather Service.

With 16.7 inches of snow since the storm arrived early Sunday, it's the most to fall since Dec. 1 and 2 in 1974, when 19.3 inches fell, as recorded at Detroit Metro Airport. The snowiest was April 6, 1886, when 24.5 inches were reported, Behnke said. The records date to 1880.

Detroit was not alone, as NBC News reported.

O'Hare reported 19.3 inches of snow from the storm, making it the fifth-heaviest on record there. Detroit reported 16.7 inches, the third-highest on record and the most since 1974. Detroit and Milwaukee both set single-day snowfall records on Sunday.
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New York is expecting 3 to 5 inches of snow by the end of Monday, while Boston should see 8 to 12, Roth said - but that was harder to predict.

That's quite some blanket, Linus!

On a more personal note, this is the heaviest single-storm snowfall I've ever experienced, as I moved here in 1989.  It's also the snowfall of the century so far.  I haven't left the house yet except to take out the recycling, which still hasn't been picked up, right before the halftime of the Super Bowl and I'm impressed already.  Wait until I shovel the driveway!

Also, it's the first snow day this season.  I'll wait to leave the property until tomorrow.  After 25 years here, I know both the fantasy and reality of snow days in Michigan.  I don't need to find out all over again.

As for Groundhog Day itself, the Washington Post reported that Punxsutawney Phil sees shadow, predicts six more weeks of winter.  Like last year but unlike 2013, I agree with him.

Stay warm, everyone!