Our conditions this week were Near Normal with 0.31" of precipitation falling over 6 days as 8.6" of snow. The week had a snowpack ranging from 11" to 13.5". January ended with us getting a monthly total of 2.51" of precipitation (very close to NOAA monthly average of 2.53") and 36.3" of snow. Daily high temperatures this week were way below seasonal average never getting any higher than the mid-teens (F), and getting as low as -8F this morning. Once again, icy conditions and low visibility caused by blowing snow resulted in traffic accidents on local roads. Many schools in western Michigan including our local schools were closed a day or two this week due to hazardous weather, and some school districts are running out of "snow-days". Many birds have been seen daily at our bird-feeder and water bath, and many waterfowl are still seen on the open waters of the river. The Kalamazoo river is still mostly open except for a lots of ice that is forming around islands and slower channels. The local millrace is has a small channel running in the middle (see attached photo), but has frozen over in spots resulting in water back up that is flooding our local river walk.