Mich. Winter Weather Forecast: Brutally Cold

DETROIT (WWJ) - Metro Detroiters better get ready to bundle up! The AccuWeather.com Long-Range Forecasting Team is predicting another brutally cold and snowy winter for a large part of the country, thanks in large part to La Niña.

La Niñas often produce a volatile weather pattern for the Midwest during winter due to the influence they have on the jet stream. The way the jet stream is expected to be positioned during this winter, Metro Detroiters can look forward to large amounts of snow and blistering cold temperatures.

Hands down, AccuWeather.com's long-range experts agree that the Midwest and Great Lakes region will be dealt the worst of winter this year. They say bitterly cold blasts of arctic air are expected to invade the Midwest and Great Lakes from December through January, while snowfall averages will be above normal.

So how much snow is normal for Detroit? WWJ-TV Chief Meteorologist Jim Madaus said in a typical winter, the region gets an average of about 44 inches.

"Lately, we've been used to heavy snows here in Detroit. Last year we received 69.1 inches, 25 inches above normal, during the fifth snowiest winter on record," Madaus said.

To put that in perspective, Madaus said during the winter of 2007-2008, we received 71.7 inches and during the winter of 2008-2009 we received 65.7 inches.

For the latest weather information, be sure to stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 during Traffic and Weather on the 8s, 24-hours a day.  For the forecast, visit our Weather Page.