February 2012 & Winter 2011-12 Weather Stats for Grand Rapids | News

Grand Rapids (WZZM) -

The weather during the month of February was above average in all respects: warmer, slightly wetter and snowier, and sunnier than usual.  The winter season (December, January and February) was the same as February, except for snowfall, which was below average.

Temperatures for the month averaged 31.9°F, 5.1°F above average, making it the sixth warmest February on record (based on data from 1870-2012), and 6.3°F warmer than last year (25.6°F).  Twenty-four days were warmer than usual, four were cooler and one was considered average.  The highest temperature occurred on February 1 with 50°F while the lowest temperature occurred on February 11 with 3°F.  The winter season averaged 32.2°F, 5.4°F above average, making it the third warmest on winter on record, and 7.4° warmer than last winter (24.8°F).

Precipitation was slightly above average last month with 2.00", 0.14" more than usual but 0.96" less than last year (2.96").  There were eleven days with measurable precipitation, which is one day less than usual (12).  Winter precipitation was above average with 7.79", 1.34" more than usual and 1.74" more than last winter (6.05").

Snowfall in February amounted to 16.2", 1.4" more than usual but 22.0" less than last year (38.2").  Winter snowfall was 47.7", 9.8" less than usual and 23.1" less than last year (70.8").

There was 37.0% of the possible sunshine last month, 2.8% more than usual but 3.5% less than last year (40.5%).  There were four clear days - exactly average (4), fifteen partly cloudy days - nine more than usual (6), and ten cloudy days - nine fewer than average (19).  Winter sunshine amounted to 30.9%, 4.7% more than usual and 6.1% more than last year (24.8%).

Temperature records:  A low of 34°F on February 29 tied the record high minimum of 34°F set in 1976.

Precipitation records:  0.68" of rain on February 29 broke the previous record of 0.27" set in 2008.