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Friday Weather Trivia

We will see a similar pattern of rain as we had last Sunday move into the area today and tonight with some areas picking up another couple inches of rain – the SPC has us in the marginal risk for severe weather the risk being mainly some hail and heavy rain.

Rain will continue over night slowly moving out tomorrow from north to south.

We have another period of rain for Sunday/ Sunday night as the warm front moves back north into the area.

Monday and Tuesday of next week brings back the warm air into our area with highs in the 80s – however the rain will move back in Tuesday night into Wednesday.

A Canadian high will push out all the warm air by next Thursday bringing in more fall-like weather – temps from Thursday onward will be in the upper 50s to low 60s which will be a shock to all the warm minded people out there.

The CPC has us cooling off to normal to below normal temps to start out October.  Keep in mind it is fall and we can’t hold onto the warm air forever.  It is time to consider getting out the jackets, coats and other warm weather apparel.


Now it is time for our new Friday feature of trivia and other historical weather:

Myth:Highway and interstate overpasses are safe shelters against a tornado.

Fact: Overpasses can concentrate the tornado winds, causing them to be significantly stronger. This places the people under them in an even more dangerous situation. In recent years, several people seeking shelter beneath overpasses have been killed or severely injured. Being above ground level during a tornado is dangerous.

Myth: The low pressure with a tornado causes buildings to explode. Opening the windows will equalize the pressure, saving the building.

Fact: Opening the windows in an attempt to equalize pressure will have no effect. It is the violent winds and debris that cause most structural damage. It is more important for you to move to a safe area away from windows and exterior walls. With a tornado, every second counts, so use your time wisely and take cover.

Myth:Thunderstorms and tornadoes always move from west to east.

Fact:More often than not, thunderstorms move from west to east. Conditions in the atmosphere dictate how and where storms will move, and it can be in any direction. Tornadoes have been known to act erratic, and can change directions and speed very quickly. Never try to outrun a tornado in a vehicle.

Myth: It’s not raining here, and skies above me are clear, therefore I am safe from lightning.

Fact: Lightning can strike many miles away from the thunderstorm. If storms are in your area, but skies happen to be clear above you, that certainly does not imply you are safe from lightning. Though these “Bolts from the Blue” are infrequent, lightning strikes 10 to 15 miles away from the storm are not out of the question.

Myth: Since I am inside my house and out of the storm, I am completely safe from lightning.

Fact: Just because you have taken shelter inside, you are not automatically safe. While inside waiting out a storm, avoid using the telephone or electrical appliances and do not take showers or baths. Also stay away from doors and windows. Telephone lines, cords, plumbing, even metal window and door frames are all lightning conductors and pose a threat

Myth:Large and heavy vehicles, such as SUVs and pickups, are safe to drive through flood waters.

Fact:It is a common belief that the larger the vehicle, the deeper the water it can drive through. Many people do not realize that two feet of water can float most vehicles, including SUVs and pickups. If the water is moving rapidly, vehicles can be swept away.

Myth: Flash floods only occur along flowing streams.

Fact: Flash floods can and do occur in dry creek or river beds as well as urban areas where no streams are present.


Sep 22, 1995
The low of 29 degrees tied the record low for the month of
September at Dodge City.

Sep 23, 1983
A thunderstorm downburst caused a timber blowdown in the Kaibab
National Forest north of the Grand Canyon. Two hundred acres
were completely destroyed, and scattered destruction occurred
across another 3300 acres. Many trees were snapped off at 15
to 30 feet above ground level.

Sep 24, 1950
A smoke pall from western Canada forest fires covered much of
the eastern U.S. Daylight was reduced to nighttime darkness
in parts of the Northeast. The color of the sun varied from
pink to purple, blue, or lavender. Yellow to grey-tan was
common.

Sep 25, 1939
A west coast hurricane moved onshore south of Los Angeles bringing
unprecedented rains along the southern coast of California.
Nearly five and a half inches of rain drenched Los Angeles during
a 24 hour period. The hurricane caused two million dollars damage,
mostly to structures along the coast and to crops, and claimed 45
lives at sea. “El Cordonazo” produced 5.66 inches of rain at Los
Angeles and 11.6 inches of rain at Mount Wilson, both records for
the month of September.

Sep 26, 1936
Denver CO was buried under 21.3 inches of snow, 19.4 inches in
24 hours. The heavy wet snow snapped trees and wires causing
seven million dollars damage.

Sep 27, 1985
A record early season snowstorm struck the Central High Plains
Region. The storm left up to nineteen inches of snow along the
Colorado Front Range, and as much as a foot of snow in the
plains.
IN 1945…A tornado moved northeast from near Ensign to 3 miles
west of Dodge City. Barns were destroyed and blacktop pavement
was removed.
IN 1998…A microburst occurred and was centered about 4 miles
north of Pratt in south central Kansas. The impact point was 4
miles north of Highway 54 and a mile east of Highway 281. The area
extended 3 miles northwest through southwest with the greatest
damage at the Pratt airport. Five buildings had considerable
damage, 7 with major damage and 18 had minor damage. Debris was
carried for miles past the impact point. A John Deere tractor
had a 16 foot long 2 by 4 impaled into the engine compartment.
IN 1998…A microburst caused extensive damage to the Lake Arrowhead
resort area five miles southwest of Isabel in south central Kansas.
Several boats were destroyed and part of a roof was taken off a
cabin. A garage under construction was completely destroyed.
There were also six, very large-mature cottonwood trees uprooted
with heavy damage to the remainder of the trees in the area.

Sep 28, 1987
Thunderstorms produced up to ten inches of rain in southern Kansas
and north central Oklahoma overnight. The Chikaskia River rose
2.5 feet above flood stage at Blackwell OK during the day causing
flooding in Kay and Grant counties of north central Oklahoma.


Tomorrow is Otsegos Creative Arts Festival – detours will be up on M89 directing traffic away from the downtown area where parts of Farmer and M89 will be closed.


 

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Mark (East Lansing)
Mark (East Lansing)

The MSU homecoming parade has been canceled. Our kids are disappointed.

*SS*
*SS*

Good storm rolling through now.

Slim

The H/L here at Grand Rapids yesterday was 68/50 while it felt cool that was still above average for the day and that was the 17th day in a row of above average mean here at Grand Rapids. The mean for the month is now at 67.0 and that should drop over the next couple of days. For today the average H/L is now at 68/48. The record high for today is 86 set in 1946 and the record low is 29 set in 1989. The warmest minimum is 65 set in 1973. And the coldest maximum is 47 set… Read more »

Barry in Zeeland
Barry in Zeeland

17 days in a row? Wow. That has to be getting up there as one of the longer streaks of the year above or below.

Slim

That is right for 2019 that is the longest streak either above or below for 2019. As the NWS doesn’t keep track of days in a row of above or below it is no easy way to compare to past years.
Slim

Slim

Nice information on some weather trivia’
Slim

INDY
INDY

And its raining again …Can’t wait to see Slims end of the month thoughts on this wet September we are feeling in west Michigan….Seeing some nice Fall air coming on the 8 day forecast hopefully it keeps rocking …. Interesting seeing Friday night lights playing at 5pm now due to the EEE outbreak in Kent county and most of southern Michigan let’s get that first frost around here fast who likes going to a high school football game at 5pm?? No Fun..have a good Friday INDY

Rocky (Rockford)
Rocky (Rockford)

What? Fall weather and cool air? Don’t tell the warm weather fanatics, they can not even admit that GR is entrenched in a long term below normal temp trend! If sept ends up above normal that will make 7 out of the last 9 months with below normal temps! Incredible and it is definitely rocking!!

Slim

I left one of the windows open last night and this AM I had to turn the heat on for the first time this fall season.
Slim

Slim

So far the official rain fall here at Grand Rapids for September is at 4.79″ here at my house I have recorded 4.74″ so far. September has been a wet month in Grand Rapids history and back in 1986 11.85″ fell. We will have to see where this year ends up.
Slim