U.S.A and Global Events for May 21st:
1881: Clara Barton and a circle of close friends found the American Red Cross. Click HERE for more information from the History Channel.
1949: A violent tornado crossed the Mississippi River from the St. Louis area into Wood River, then to Roxanna. This tornado damaged or destroyed 300 homes in these two towns, killing five people. Four people died in a destroyed restaurant in Palestine, Illinois; one body was recovered from a tree. A tornado causing estimated F4 damage killed five people and injured 55 in St. Louis and St. Charles counties in Missouri and Madison County in Illinois. This tornado was part of an outbreak that produced four different tornadoes and was responsible for five deaths and 57 injuries.
2001: Golfers participating in a golf tournament at the Majestic Golf Course in Hartland, Michigan received an urgent message on the G.P.S. on their carts. The message relayed from the clubhouse, was that a tornado was bearing down on the course. Most of the golfers made it to safety in the clubhouse, although some had to take shelter on the course. Only one golfer suffered a minor injury. The F2 tornado damaged 70 cars in the parking lot along with numerous golf carts and a pontoon boat. More info below:
May2001 21
Grand Rapids Forecast
5 21 grrForecast Discussion
...Dry through Saturday... High pressure currently centered over the Missouri Valley will drift east this week and when combined with the northwest flow aloft will result in dry weather and lots of sunshine, along with warmer temperatures. An upper trough exists over Hudson Bay and ECMWF/GFS show several short waves rotating around it. We`ll see a cold front drop south across Lower Michigan Wednesday. The moisture that is noted along the front will likely remain over Ontario, but it`s possible that a few showers could clip northeast Lower or the Thumb with an outside chance of the far eastern cwa. Chances are too low to include any precipitation in the grids for mid week. The result of Wednesday`s cold front will be an increase in some clouds, slightly cooler temperatures and a continued dry northeast wind.
Looks like a near average or a little above available temperatures for the holiday weekend the so cald blow torch just maybe the avarage torch that was predicted by some coming up but one thing for sure keep the hoodies out for some perfect end of May cool bond fire weather nights lows in the 40’s and 50’s I love long Springs yeahhhh wow to the wow baby INDY
It was yet another below normal temp day and next week we have some more 30’s and low 40’s at night! The cool pattern is incredible. Wow, just wow, WOW!
I’ve seen more nighttime distant lightning in Arizona than I’ve seen in Michigan all year! Incredible!
Arizona has been just wonderful. The weather is absolutely incredible! It clicked up to 100 where we were at yesterday. The mountain hiking has been phenomenal with breathtaking views. Not going to lie has me considering a move there I’m liking it that much.
Horrendous heat and when some humid kicks in, it is oppressive!
76 here currently. I suggest wearing sunscreen if you go out. The sun is pretty intense.
The sky has a white tint to it yet here. So while sunny it is not really as intense as it would be under non smoke skies. The temperature is now at 76 here in MBY.
Slim
I did some research and I think the smoke reduces the brightness of the sun, but it has no effect on the UV radiation. So sunburns still occur as quickly as a clear blue sky (don’t 100% quote me on this fact)
That’s true. You can get sunburned when it’s cloudy. I definitely got some sun today.
I saw 3-4 farmers today starting to irrigate – in May!!! Wow.
This has been a very dry May and there is no rain in the forecast in the next week. At This time Grand Rapids has only had 0.84″ of rain (just 0.72″ here in MBY) Muskegon just 0.86″ Lansing 0.96″ and Holland 1.03″ the last time there has been such wide spread low rain fall in May was in 1988 and 1987. We shall see how the rest of this summer plays out. Note if it stays dry days can get a hotter but nights can be cooler.
Slim
I wonder how much the smoke is blocking the UV light? The sky is pretty white in color, but it seems like most of the sunlight is still filtering through
In looking at the shadows they look much lighter than usual for a sunny day. So a good amount of sunlight is getting blocked and that could be holding down the daytime temperatures.
Slim
Looks like the next 2-3 weeks at least will be very mild and dry. May should mark our 13th straight warm month in a row!
How could that be?!?!? With all the cold weather hype and propaganda on here?!?!
Love these long summers!
At the current time most locations in lower Michigan May is below average to near average. The so call “blowtorch” does not look to happen this week coming up. There will be warm days but with the dry air and low dew points it can get cooler at night. The average high rises from 72 to 74 and the average low rises from 50 to 52. At most locations the last year has been warmer than average. But the next week or more looks to stay on the dry side. That dry side could be the pattern for the summer.… Read more »
You are wrong again! Below normal temps middle to end of this week! How could it be? Incredible!
Good morning, you fine people. The sun came out yesterday afternoon so it wasn’t cloudy all day. Looks like the weather will continue to be boring, but lovely for the foreseeable future. I just hope the fish are biting next weekend. Yesterday was project day for the boy and me. He turns 16 in a few days. The driver’s inside door handle on his car was broken. A new handle, lock, and bracket mechanism was only $22. If you ever need new car parts, check Rock Auto. I’ve been using them for years. Much cheaper and better variety than the… Read more »
Mark,
My hubby has used that company before. He and kiddos do a lot of fixing up of their vehicles!!! 16…exciting for him … Nerve racking for parents. Lol.
Have a great day everyone!!!
Looks like there is a possibility of another frost warning for Thursday morning. My tomatoes are getting too big for their solo cups. Haha!
Yesterday the official H/L was 67/46 there was a trace of reported rain fall and 55% of possible sunshine. There were 0 Cooling Degree Days and 8 Heating Degree Days. For today the average H/L is 72/50 the record high of 91 was in 1977 and the record low of 31 was in 1969. The record rain fall of 2.46” fell in 2004.
Slim
Hey Slim – if you have a minute, would you please explain heating & cooling degree days?
Ok Mark good question. It is a tool to use as to how much energy might be used to heat or cool you house.
https://www.weather.gov/key/climate_heat_cool
Slim
Thank you, sir. I don’t understand why they would use days (plural) when referencing a single day. For that matter, why even use the word day(s)? It’s in reference to the temp departure from 65 degrees. Why not just call it cooling degrees or heating degrees? Rhetorical questions.