Yesterday was mostly sunny and we slowly warmed up to 47° after a low of 24°.
Hopefully, we will be seeing the last gasp of winter today with promises of warmer kinder conditions as we proceed through the week. Light snow is beginning to move into the area as I write this at 5 am. Our current temp is 35° which will hold steady throughout the day not gaining much traction to get to 40°. Most areas will see an inch or so of snow.
Forecast Discussion
- Cold and Wintry Today, But Limited Impacts The forecast continues to look on track for today with no real changes expected. Upstream observations indicate light snow occurring across northern Illinois with generally 1-3 miles visibility. We should see similar conditions here throughout the daytime and into tonight. Wet bulb zero heights are generally shown to be 1000-1500ft, which supports snow as the dominant p-type. However, across southern Lower MI (ie. closer to I-94) wet bulb zero heights will probably be above 1500 ft and a rain/snow mix or transition to rain is likely. Surface wet bulb temperatures look just a tad warmer than earlier indications but it is really trivial in this type of situation, and even with wet snow falling we are expecting no impacts other than an inch or two on unpaved surfaces. The exception looks to be east of a Mt. Pleasant to Lansing to Jackson line, and especially into the thumb region of the state, where hourly precipitation rates will be heavier and the snowfall may overcome the warmer pavement temperatures for a time. Unless this area suddenly backs up further west than current indications, we look to escape this event without issues. - Mid Week Light Rain Still on Track A brief window of low level moisture advection (LLJ of 60 kts moving overhead) in association with a shortwave feature late Wednesday will bring light rain to the area. Most, if not all, of the light rain will be falling between sunset Wednesday and sunrise Thursday, so not looking at much disruption of daytime activities. Amounts of a few tenths of an inch of rain still look likely at this point based on ensemble guidance. - Possible Storminess on Friday Ensemble guidance is suggesting both temperature and precipitation uncertainty Friday as we transition into building upper level heights. The reason for this is we`ll need the surface warm front to clear the area to ensure dry and warm weather and that may not happen until Saturday potentially. Much depends on the strength and location of the LLJ on Friday because this will intersect the surface warm front and allow for moisture convergence to occur, combined with elevated instability, to develop showers and thunderstorms. There could be an MCS in this type of scenario but only time will tell. Friday could potentially be cool with temperatures in the 50s. - Weekend Warmup Still Anticipated, But May Not Last Long Good ensemble agreement exists for the warm front to push north of our area on Saturday, ushering in 60s and 70s for most locations it appears. There are question marks about how quickly the upper level ridge breaks down, which is not surprising this far out. That will have implications on Sunday`s high temperature forecast as well as our risk for precipitation.
Category: Michigan Weather Forecast
More snow is rolling through GR this morning! Incredible!
If anyone wants to see the flowers blooming and enjoy the warmth alot of the greenhouses are opening this week. I love to walk thru them and see everything.
At the rate this snow is coming down the grass won’t take long to be covered. Already got a nice dusting. Visibility probably less than a half mile
Currently more snow moving in the Winter that wasn’t is still snowing on April 18 just the facts looks beautiful outside…InDY
2.3 degrees colder than normal in 2022! Now that clearly proves the cool pattern that we have been entrenched in despite the warm weather hype! Wow!
Horrible Spring weather so far! Colder than normal, wetter than normal, windier than normal and cloudier than normal! All in all just pathetic!
I’ll be leaving for Alabama in 3 short days. Mid to Upper 80s and sunny! Incredible! Looking foreword to it.
We are still getting pummeled with a rain/snow mix! Wow, just wow!
Sounds like you are enjoying this weather!
The snow mix is picking up in intensity here again
As a matter of fact it’s starting to stick now.
Fantastic!
I enjoyed this mornings weather when it was accumulating, now it is mainly rain, so it is a horrendous cold, wet Spring evening!
>>>>>Breaking Weather Alert>>>>>> the latest CPC has us entrenched in below normal temps well into May just like I predicted a week or so ago! Who would have thought? Incredible!
Flakes still falling here. It has remained above freezing so there is no snow on the ground, trees, or cars. Just another chilly, wet day.
This is a good “learning year” for the younger crowd. Those who think it must warm, and become Summer up here. Sadly, the truth is that “warm summer weather” isn’t guaranteed. Fourty six degrees throughout the year, will help expand people’s reality of The Southern Arctic. Eighty five in Clearwater at the moment 😉
Yes you can never count on decent weather around here till mid to late May and if you are lucky it may last a few months before we transition right back to winter! Incredible!
Anyone golfing today?
Probably. Some golfers are fanatical.
If anyone is golfing today I would not call them fanatical, I would call them totally out of their minds and recommend they seek professional medical help fast!
Back in the 40’s for the last week of Aoril going into May who would of thought?? InDYv
Yes, we are entrenched in a cold pattern, even though the warm weather fanatics keep talking about blow torches and nice warm Spring weather! incredible!
Yes its been a quiet Spring also on here maybe a few days of warm repeats but nothing to bad sofar must mean its cold outside…InDzy
+1
Just starting to snow here. Very fine, small flakes.
Yesterdays official high at Grand Rapids was just 44 that is -15 below average for April 17. Yesterdays low of 27 was the 4th coldest for any April 17 at Grand Rapids. Today also looks to be one of the coldest April 18 in GR history. It may end up in the top 3 coldest. It will be interesting to see how much todays official snow fall will be. Todays record looks to be safe (3.0″ in 1912) and just a few years ago in 2018 1.8″ fell. But there is a very good chance that today will end up with one of the most snow falls for any April 18 at Grand Rapids. At the current time there is light to moderate snow falling there is snow on the roofs and a trace on the ground here with a temperature of 32.
Slim
Snow is just now starting to stick here on the grassy areas on the south end of Grand Rapids. Very minor at this point.
I don’t expect a lot to accumulate but will wait and see how GRR puts down for the snowfall total. Here in NW GR there is some snow on the ground but more on the tops of cars and a good covering on the roofs. Don’t looks like a inch on the roofs but it is a good covering none the less.
Slim
Looking good over in the thumb! Possible road trip to go snowshoeing one more time! Incredible!
https://www.weather.gov/dtx/weatherstory
Yes the thumb area looks to be the sweet spot for a nice mid April snowfall
We are getting pounded with snow as we speak! Keep it coming!
Snowing here on the south end of Grand Rapids where I am at currently. No snow is currently sticking yet. Current temperature of 34.
3-6” for the Thumb? Sheesh!
Looks like the lawn is just starting to grow. I love that first cut of the season. The rest of the season? Not so much.
Yes the thumb region and northern parts of the Detroit metro look to get a decent snowfall.
The grass is staring to grow here as well. If it stays wet and cool there could be a lot grass cutting in the next month or more.
Slim
It looks like April will go down as yet another month with below,normal temps! Who would have thought?
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
So much for the big warm up! It may last a couple of days! Wow!
That is kind of what the NWS is now saying.
Slim