Just as peak fall color and cooler temperatures start to roll through the state, it’s that time of year once again for the Leelanau Enterprise to announce its annual snowfall contest.
Weather enthusiasts can now start mailing in their snowfall entries until Nov. 13 for the period between Oct. 15, 2024 through April 15, 2025 included, opening up the opportunity for any and all guesses to those that fill out a form.
“This winter’s projection is for temperatures to be warmer than normal, and another dry season. Of course projections change and the running joke is that weathermen are 50% accurate at best,” said Leelanau Enterprise Publisher/COO John Elchert. “So now is your chance to be the weatherman and predict the total snowfall for the 2024-25 winter season.”
Last year’s 2023-2024 total snowfall count for the area of 62 inches was unusually low, according to the National Weather Service. Due to the El Nino that was in place in 2023 into 2024, the low total snowfall accumulation also followed one of the warmest December and February months on record.
September of this year was also one for the record books. In Traverse City, September was the third warmest on record, with the hottest temperatures recorded at 91 degrees on Sept. 15 and 16. It was also the fourth driest on record, with only 0.86 inches of precipitation reported for the entire month. At the Michigan State Extension Weather Station in Northport, the high temperature on the last day of September was a warm 79 degrees, reaching nearly 80. On Wednesday, the ongoing dry weather prompted elevated fire danger for much of the eastern side of the state.
Dry weather patterns are expected to continue into October with seasonable temperatures gradually building in the weeks ahead.
“The last couple of winters have been pretty mild and dry. That is good if you are like me and don’t necessarily like clearing snow. Not so good if you enjoy skiing or snowshoeing,” said Elchert. “I suspect another low snowfall year, not topping the 90-inch mark. But I’ll hedge my guess like a real weatherman and say it could be more or it could be less depending on weather pattern shifts. I think that covers me. We look forward to seeing the wide variation in predictions from our readers.”
Contest prizes include $200 for first place, $100 for second, and $50 for third. The fourth place winner will receive a signed copy of Ken Scott’s Back Pages of Leelanau County.
The person who guesses closest to the total amount of snowfall recorded for the 2024-25 season is the winner. If there is a tie breaker, the winner will be the person who makes a guess closest to the total number of points scored in the 2025 NCAA’s Men’s Basketball Championship game.
Entries must be received by 5 p.m. on Nov. 13 at the Leelanau Enterprise office and must be filled out on the printed form, located in Section 3 Pg. 6. Entry forms are available at the Enterprise office or by mail request by sending a selfaddressed stamped envelope to 7200 E. Duck Lake Rd., Lake Leelanau, MI 49653.
