A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the assassination of President Kennedy. This week I will touch on a earlier date that change the course of American history.
At 7:55 a.m. HST (12:22 EST) . A swarm of 360 Japanese warplanes descending on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in a ferocious assault. The surprise attack struck a critical blow against the U.S. Pacific fleet and drew the United States irrevocably into World War 2
It was Sunday morning, and many military personnel had been given passes to attend religious services off base. At 7:02 a.m., two radar operators spotted large groups of aircraft in flight toward the island from the north, but, with a flight of B-17s expected from the United States at the time, they were told to sound no alarm.
Five of eight battleships, three destroyers, and seven other ships were sunk or severely damaged, and more than 200 aircraft were destroyed. A total of 2,400 Americans were killed and 1,200 were wounded, many while valiantly attempting to repulse the attack. Japan’s losses were some 30 planes, five midget submarines, and fewer than 100 men. Fortunately for the United States, all three Pacific fleet carriers were out at sea on training maneuvers.
The day after Pearl Harbor was bombed, President Roosevelt appeared before a joint session of Congress and declared, “Yesterday, December 7, 1941–a date which will live in infamy–the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” After a brief and forceful speech, he asked Congress to approve a resolution recognizing the state of war between the United States and Japan. The Senate voted for war against Japan by 82 to 0. The house approved the resolution by a vote of 388 to 1. With only Jeannette Rankin of Montana voting against.
Three days later, Germany and Italy declared war against the United States, and the U.S. government then declared war on the both in response. And that was the official start of the United States involvement in WW2.
My dad did not say much about the war. Due to very bad eyesight he was not drafted for military duty but he worked at Defoe Ship Building Co in Bay City
and he was an air raid warden (I might get more into that later).
Being a weather blog here are the weather conditions
In Honolulu on December 7th 1941 the H/L was 78/70 and 0.05” of rain was reported. Here in Grand Rapids the H/L on that date was 36/22 and there was no snow on the ground.
With the winter season now here is are some snow fall records for Michigan.
Michigan records for snow fall (both high and low) the snowiest location Delaware seasonal average 241.5” (note the amount at Herman was in the 1985 it 2015 time) the most in one season also at Delaware where 391.9” fell in 1978/79. Delaware also holds the most for a month as well when 129.3” fell in December of 1989. The most in one day was just to our north where at Baldwin 33.5” fell on November 30th 1960. On average the least snowy location is Michigan is Grosse Point where the average snow fall is just 28.7” per season. The least snow fall for a winter was in the winter of 1948/49 when just 1.1” was reported. Here in Grand Rapids the average is around 75” the most in a season is officially 132.0” in 1951/52 (there is a unofficial report that winter of 144.2 downtown) The least snowy winter is the winter of 1905/06 when just 20.0” was reported.
Slim
Get ready! Next week we will see the following, arctic air, wind, lake effect snow, lake enhanced snow and clipper snow! Next weekend is looking like a ski trip up to snow country! Downhill skiing, cross country skiing and snowshoeing is in my future! Nothing gets better that that! Incredible!
Some areas across the upper peninsula have over 50 inches of snow this winter season amazing…INDY
Idk the gfs. Gordon food service model doesn’t think so!!!
Just another cloudy cold winter day in MI! Get used to it and get ready for tons of snow this season!
+1000…INDY
Only 31* degrees out at thee YARDofBRICKS NE of GR NWS calling for mid 40’s today?? Lol….INDY
Well we are now below average in snowfall for the season, and by tonight we will be below average for December as well. How is this possible?
the gfs isn’t showing much lake effect snow for us next week? Is everyone backing off on that or is the gfs just slow to the party?
With a artic blast coming and lk temps in the mid 40’s who needs GFS models lol… Lake effect will be rocking next week…Mark it down!! INDY!
+10000!
I better get to meijer and stock up on eggs and milk!!!
The nws is predicting a West wind and the GR area picking up at least 2 to 4 inches. Rock n roll will never die! I suggest you totally disregard the comments on here from the warm weather fanatics and naysayers! They will say not much of a snow storm even when we pick up 6 inches with blowing and drifting! What a joke!
U bet!!!!
don’t mind the elves working in the background – they removed the sidebar placing the content below the comments section – this will give the content availability on all pages
Dropped down to 21* degrees overnight out at thee YARDofBRICKS NE of GR another very cold night I just saw the Euro long range out look for January most of the United States in blue including Michigan no change for sene?? Today will be mild mid 40’s compared to whats a coming …Snow shovels and Winter hats baby have a great Saturday…..INDY
Thanks Slim –
As I have said before my father-in-law volunteered as did his twin brother and 16 million angry men who wanted revenge for the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Japan had woken the sleeping giant of the U.S. (quoted by Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, who planned the attack on Pearl Harbor) – being a mainly agrarian society back then the U.S. sent strong tenacious farm boys into Europe and the South Pacific.
So I came across a video clip from the wind storm last week at Holland State Park. Just crazy and insane!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/184860862@N07/49181033916/in/dateposted-public/
Wow!
Good post Slim. I’ve always been highly interested on that day, always read or watch documentaries about the attack. Can’t imagine what it must have been like living through that.
Nice post. I feel like my/our generation (Gen X) may the last generation to truly appreciate the date of Dec 7. I could be wrong.
I believe the Gen X generation will be better know for all of the climate change deniers! Hard to believe that our President and many in the republican party do not believe in global warming and the destruction it is doing to our planet and our way of life!
Ok Boomer!