We reached 80° once again yesterday with .50 of an inch of rain which fell in the morning. We have had 3.54 inches for the month, and 7.05 inches thus far for the spring.
We can expect another rainy humid day today with a bit more wind than yesterday, there is no expectation of severe weather.
NWS Forecast
Weather History
1899: Grand Rapids sets the record high for the month of April at 90 degrees after a balmy morning low of 70 degrees.
1909: Heavy rain mixed with snow sets records across Lower Michigan. The daily total liquid equivalent precipitation is 2.53 inches at Grand Rapids, and this includes a daily record of 2.2 inches of snow. The 1.75 inches at Lansing includes four inches of snow. Temperatures remain in the 30s all day.
A very impressive late-season rain/snowstorm hit Southeast Michigan late on April 28th – 29th in 1909. The very intense low-pressure system moved through the region bringing Detroit 1.99″ of rain along with 3.0″ of snow, sleet, and hail from thunderstorms. Easterly winds gusted up into the 40s mph much of the 29th and then late in the evening, a strong cold front brought a northwest wind gust to 54 mph. In Saginaw, they were buried under 13.0 inches of snow.
1910: The temperature at Kansas City MO soared to 95 degrees to establish a record for April. Four days earlier the afternoon high in Kansas City was 44 degrees following a record cold morning low of 34 degrees.
1987: A storm off the southeast coast of Massachusetts blanketed southern New England with heavy snow on the 28 through the 29th. Totals of three inches at Boston, 11 inches at Milton, and 17 inches at Worcester Massachusetts were records for so late in the season. Princeton Massachusetts was buried under 25 inches of snow.
1991: Southeast Bangladesh was devastated by a tropical cyclone with sustained winds of approximately 155 mph during the late night hours. A 20-foot storm surge inundated the offshore islands south of Chittagong and pushed water from the Bay of Bengal inland for miles. The best estimate put the loss of life from this cyclone between 135,000 and 145,000 people.
Forecast Discussion
- More Showers and Storms Today Surface analysis as of 2am shows a surface low centered over eastern IA with a warm front draped across southern WI into the I-96 corridor in southern MI. A few warm frontal rain showers have initiated just north of the surface boundary, but otherwise most areas across the CWA remain dry this morning. Surface based instability diminished shortly after sunset yesterday evening, so mainly rain is expected with any showers. As the low slides northeastward into eastern MN / western WI, the warm front will lift northwards and a steadier batch of showers currently moving through central IL will enter southern MI. More widespread showers can be expected during the mid to late morning hours. A few storms will be possible across the eastern CWA during the afternoon as a cold front moves through, but there`s still a question on storm strength. Instability looks limited with MLCAPE under 1000 J/kg, but bulk shear will be supportive (40 to 50 knots) alongside an elevated 850mb jet to 30 to 40 knots. Currently thinking non-severe given the expected afternoon cloud cover, but if any breaks occur we could see some decently strong storms develop across the eastern CWA. The front works its way east by this evening with dry weather to start Tuesday. Surface ridging moves in place Tuesday leading to the return of dry weather. Sunny skies are expected with highs in the 60s. - Main chance for rain in the Wed-Sun time frame is Thurs Night-Fri The main chance for showers and storms will come late in the work week from Thursday night into Friday. A strong shortwave will eject out of a Plains trough and move through the Great Lakes region during this time frame. A cold front will sweep through Thursday night and provide the main focus for showers and storms. Most unstable CAPE values are forecast to reach the 1000-2000 j/kg range so there will be solid chances for convection. Otherwise, there is a weak front that approaches and washes out over the area Tuesday night into Wednesday. The chance for precipitation is generally low given the weakening front. - Temperatures remain on the warm side of normal this week Temperatures through the forecast period are expected to remain near to above normal. Highs will generally be in the middle 60s to lower 70s. Normal highs are in the lower to middle 60s for this time of year. Given fruit trees and flowers are in or moving too full bloom it is good we are not looking at cold weather in the short term.
What are these tiny little worms that seem to have invaded everything outside and how do you get rid of them???
Only a few sprinkles late this afternoon. Otherwise, another fantastic day. Off and on sun. Unseasonably warm again with highs in the double digits above average. Lots of golfers on our course.
A car crashed into a power pole near m neighborhood and we lost power. Hope everyone is okay inside the car! Not sure what happened… perhaps it’ll be on the news later
We just got pummeled with rain! Nearly an inch! Another nice morning for golf?
The official H/L yesterday at Grand Rapids was 78/53 there was 0.12” of rainfall. The sun was out 18% of the possible time. The highest wind gust was 29 MPH out of the S. For today the average H/L is 64/43 the record high of 90 was set in 1899 (that is also the record for April and the earliest 90 days at GR) the record low of 28 was set in 1977,1979 and 2012. The wettest was 2.53” in 1909 and that day also had the most snowfall of 2.2” Last year the H/L was 64/40.
Slim
That 28 degrees in 2012 was a very damaging freeze. Also 90 in 1899… interesting because that winter had the coldest temp on record