Detroit's wet winter follows national trend

Detroit got 8.4 inches of precipitation this winter — 1.8 more than average.

• That's according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Why it matters: Wintertime precipitation can cause hazardous conditions, which prevent travel and knock out power.

• Ice storms wreaked havoc on Michigan's electric grid in February, knocking out power to more than 700,000 homes and businesses.

The big picture: A national band of heavier-than-usual precipitation stretched from California to Minnesota this winter.

• Much of California and the Midwest recorded some of the wettest-ever winters.
• This was Metro Detroit's 20th-wettest winter on record.