A RESTR CAPT'S RPT ON LNDG AT GRR WITH ABOUT 4 INCHES OF WET SNOW WHEN LESS THAN 1 INCH WAS EXPECTED ON THE RWY AT GRR; MI.

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OUR FLT WAS DISPATCHED FROM MSP TO GRR. THE FLT RAN 30 MINS LATE DUE TO THE FLT DECK CREW CONNECTIONS INBOUND. WX FOR RELEASE SHOWED -- SNOW; VISIBILITY VARIABLE 3/4-1 MI AND CEILING 8 MI VARIABLE OVCST. THE CAPT WAS STILL ON HIGH MINIMUMS DUE TO RECENT TYPING ON A320. THE CREW HAD BEEN WATCHING THE WX RPTS VIA ACARS ALL AFTERNOON; BUT THEY JUST REFLECTED LIGHT SNOW ALL AFTERNOON; BUT NO UNUSUAL FIELD CONDITIONS. BREAKOUT FROM THE APCH WAS 500 FT AGL WITH BLOWING SNOW. FORWARD VISIBILITY WAS ABOUT 1 MI. THE COCKPIT CREW GOT 1 RPT OF POOR BRAKING FROM ZAU JUST PRIOR TO APCH CLRNC. ONE OTHER ACFT WAS DEPARTING JUST PRIOR TO OUR ARR. TWR IS CLOSED AT GRR AT THIS TIME OF NIGHT. UPON TOUCHDOWN; THE ACCURACY OF THE POOR BRAKING WAS CONFIRMED; BUT THE DEPTH OF SNOW WAS THE REAL SHOCKER. OUR ESTIMATE WAS 1-4 INCHES OF WET SNOW; CLOSE TO SLUSH IN SOME SPOTS. THE STATION PERSONNEL WERE USING THE ARPT POLICE RPT OF JUST A THIN COVERING OF SNOW THAT WAS LESS THAN 1 INCH. THE STATION PERSONNEL STATED THAT THEY ARE NOT TRAINED IN WX OBSERVATION TECHNIQUES; AND DISPATCH HAD NO PROBS WITH CONTAMINANTS RPTED TO THEM. OBVIOUSLY; REALITY DIFFERED CONSIDERABLY WITH THE RPTED WX. THE COCKPIT CREW WOULD NOT HAVE LANDED; IF MORE ACCURATE DATA HAD BEEN MADE AVAILABLE.