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1971!! – The Michigan Weather Center
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1971!!

50 years ago.

This week I will look back 50 years ago at 1971.  In September of 1970 I just started a new job that I would have for the next 36 years. While I did not live in Grand Rapids at the time (I lived in Bay City then) I will look at the weather events for December 1970 and the whole year of 1971.

The winter of 1970/71 started off with a cold and snowy December. December 1970 had a mean at Grand Rapids of 18.4 and there was 33.8” of snow fall. Now for a month by month summery of 1971.

January.  The mean for January at Grand Rapids was 18.3° that was -6.1° the high for the month was 41 on the 4th On the 31st the high only reached +4° the low for the month was -9 on the 19th there were 6 nights when the low was 0 or below. There was 27.2” of snow fall with the most of 5.1” on the 3rd the most snow on the ground was 13” and the least amount on the ground was 7”.

February.  The mean temperature for February was 24.1 that was a departure of -2.7 the high for the month was 51 on the 26th and the low was -11 on the 1st and 2nd there was only 1.4” of snow fall with the most falling in one day of just 0.8”. The most on the ground was 12” and there was only a trace reported but he end of the month.

March.  March was a cold one with a mean of 29.0 that was -6.6 the high for the month was 64 on the 14th and again on the 31st. The low was +3 on the 9th There was 25.9” of snow fall with the most being 5.3” on the 6th The most on the ground was 6”

April.  The cold continued into April with a mean of 43.8 that was a departure of 4.2. The high for the month did reach 77 on the 12th but the low was 13 on the 4th there was 4.1” of snow fall with 3.2” falling on the 2nd

May.  May once again seen some very cold temperatures and the mean was 54.0 a departure of -4.7. The high for the month did reach 81 on the 17th but the low was 26 on the 3rd and 4th and it reached 28 once again in the 13th

June.  Summer did arrive in June with a mean of 70.9 a departure of +2.5 The low for the month was 40 and the high was 96 on the 28th there were 6 days of 90 or better.

July.  After a warmer than average June the month of July once again was cooler than average with a mean of 69.3 for a departure of -3.3° The high for the month was 89 on the 4th and 7th there were 15 days where the high was in the 70’s The low for the month was 46 on the 31st there were 5 nights when the low got down into the 40’s.

August.  August was another cool month with mean of 68.6 a departure of -2.2. The high for the month was 90 on the 11th 21st and 22nd the low was 45 on the 24 and there were 7 nights were the low dropped into the 40’s. While the summer of 1971 9 days of 90 or better the summer was -2.0 cooler than average.  It should be noted that the summer of 1971 would see 2 more 90° days.

September.  Meteorological Fall would see a return of a short push of summer. The first 8 days were all 80 or better with 2 days at 90. The low for the month was 35

October. This was a very warm month with a mean of 58.3 that is good for a departure of +7.3 and that was good for the 5th warmest October on record at Grand Rapids. That mean would have been warmer yet if not for 6 nights in a row with lows in the 30’s ending up with the low for the month of 33.

November. The warmth did not last into November as the mean of 38.0 was a departure of -2.1 the high for the month was 68 and the low was 14 (note so far this winter season the coldest it has gotten is 14) and there was 14.9” of snow fall.

December. 1971 ended with mild as December’s mean was 32.0 good for a departure of +2.8 The high for the month was 62 and the low for the month was 12. Only 3.7” of snow fall that December. That is the 7th lowest in Grand Rapids history.

For the year Grand Rapids mean ended up at 47.6 compared to 2020 at 50.1. There was 101.4” of snow fall that winter. Even with a cool summer there were 11 days of 90 or better. And there we 10 nights of 0 or below.

Slim

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Mark (East Lansing)
Mark (East Lansing)

So, it’s 2.5 degrees warmer now than it was 50 years ago. I don’t want to get political with climate change, but it sure seems that things are much different. Snow storms in the heart of Texas last week and we’re in a snow drought? 50 years ago it was zero or below zero ten times, and the coldest temp here so far this winter was 14.

BTW Slim, nice post today. Thanks for being our resident almanac.

Barry in Zeeland
Barry in Zeeland

Thanks Slim! Not quite a year I can remember as I was only a half a year old but interesting and informative as always!