Christmas was whiter than ever in Sault Ste. Marie this year after Winter Storm Elliot dumped the most snow ever seen in the three days surrounding Christmas.
National Weather Service (NWS) Gaylord Meteorologist Sean Christensen said the total amount snowfall for Friday, Dec. 23, Saturday, Dec. 24, and Sunday, Dec. 25 accumulated to 36.7 inches.
“This was the highest snowfall the Sault has ever received around Christmas,” said Christensen. “The next closest was in 1996.”
During the same three day period in 1996, 13.8 inches dropped on the Sault.
This year’s snowfall was only comparable to Dec. 9, Dec. 10, and Dec. 11 of 1995 when 56 inches covered the city.
The highest wind gusts recorded during this year’s Christmas storm came from the Soo Locks at 45 mph, blowing in from the southwest.
Sault Ste. Marie Municipal Airport mostly recorded wind gusts at 30 mph. All that blowing covered roadways.
“All of northern Michigan was affected,” Christensen said. “It impacted the entire northeastern United Stated and beyond.”
While lower Michigan saw several inches, Lake Huron and Lake Superior enhanced the air’s moisture in the EUP.
“The snow belt areas saw spots over three feet,” Christensen said.
According to the NWS, the current weather forecast in Sault Ste. Marie is cloudy with a high near 34 degrees, accompanied by a southeast wind speed of 10 mph.
Expect a small chance of rain and snow showers before 1 a.m. with slight chance of drizzle between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. The drizzle could possibly continue after 4 a.m. It will be cloudy with a low around 31 degrees. The chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
