"Metro Detroit Experiences Second Warmest and Least Snowy December on Record Due to El Niño"

Michigan experienced an unusually warm December in 2023, with most areas recording the second-warmest December in 132 years of consistent record-keeping. The western half of the Upper Peninsula even had the warmest December on record. Average temperatures were between eight and ten degrees above normal, making the abnormal warmth perceptible to residents. This trend was not isolated to Michigan, as nearby regions like northwest Wisconsin, northern Iowa, and all of Minnesota also reported their warmest Decembers. The warm temperatures resulted in significantly less snowfall, with places like Grand Rapids receiving only one inch of snow for the entire month.