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Gradual Warmup

We had a high temp of 41.4° yesterday and a low of 24° overnight.  We had a few light to moderate snow showers yesterday but it only amounted to a trace.

After recovering from a hard freeze in many areas this morning, temperatures will approach 50 degrees during the afternoon which is more acceptable but still below normal for this time of year. Temperatures will dip to around freezing tonight, not as cold as the previous two nights. High temperatures going into next week will gradually warm up.

We have the promise of temps in the 70s early next week before falling back to the 60s which would be near normal for this time of year.

The only positive for these cooler temps is we don’t have all the bugs flying and crawling about.  In our area ticks and ants have been horrible this spring.


Forecast Discussion

- Isolated rain or snow showers today

Isolated snow showers are possible this morning with lake induced
instability almost to thresholds needed for outright lake
generated precipitation. Delta T`s this morning are on the order
of 12C. Precipitation moving in off the lake early this morning is
remnants of diurnally driven upstream precipitation from
yesterday evening that has drifted out of the lake. Either way,
small pops are probably warranted for an isolated snow showers.
This afternoon, enough instability will develop over land for heat
of the day rain showers, especially off to the east and south of
Grand Rapids.

- Chances for rain showers Friday night through Saturday night

Models have remained consistent on the potential for rain showers
beginning as early as Friday night. The precipitation will be
centered during the day on Saturday however. An upper trough will
be moving through the area, with the main surface low well south
of the State of Michigan. Right now we have chance pops in place
for most of the forecast area, 20-50 percent, but could see this
needing to be bumped up with time. Best chances will be across
Southern Lower Michigan. Precipitation does not look heavy.

- Warming trend next week

Today will be the coldest day of the 7 day forecast. 850mb
temperatures at midday will still be around -8C. We warm tonight
to around Zero C and remain there much of the next few days,
Friday through Sunday. 50s for highs will be fairly common Friday
through Sunday.

The warming trend begins ahead of our next weather system that is
forecast to move through mid next week. The southerly flow ahead
of this system will boost 850mb temps all the way into the middle
teens C. Highs will correspondingly jump into the 70s for Tuesday
and likely Wednesday which will be above normal.

- Additional chances for precipitation mid next week

Models continue to bring a surface low up into the Great Lakes mid
next week. This system will be wetter than the weekend system with
PWAT values jumping to around an inch and a quarter. Rainfall from
this system will likely reach around a half inch in many places.
Model ensemble data shows the chance for some heavier
precipitation though so we will continue to watch out this system
evolves. In deep southerly flow, the gulf will be wide open.
newest oldest
Slim

The official overnight low of 25 is the 2nd coldest low for any April 22nd at Grand Rapids. The coldest low of 24 was tied just last year. The low was 24 also in 1986 and 1950. The month of April is now down to +1.9 while above the 30 year average it is well below where it was before this cool down.
Slim

INDY
INDY

Wow we just hit 45* degrees in my area well below average again …..INDY

Mark (East Lansing)
Mark (East Lansing)

A couple of months back, my employer gave us the option of returning to work or continuing to work from home. I chose to stay home. One of the benefits of working from home is that I just spent my lunch hour mowing the lawn. The wind is chilly today so I put on a hoodie. It’s not too bad out, especially when the sun peeks through the clouds.

Rocky (Rockford)
Rocky (Rockford)

Working from home is awesome! No commute!

Mark (East Lansing)
Mark (East Lansing)

No kidding. Less wear and tear on my vehicle. Only a fraction of the miles I used to put on it, longer time in between oil changes, etc. Not to mention gas is nearly $3 a gallon ($3.09 a gallon the other day when I was in Brighton), so I’m saving a bunch on fuel costs. Plus if I don’t have a zoom call, I don’t need to shave and I can stay in my PJs all day.

Sandy (Hudsonville)
Sandy (Hudsonville)

It will be so nice to see it warm up again. I think we have seen the end of the snow.

Mark (East Lansing)
Mark (East Lansing)

I think you’re right, Sandy. 😀

Mookie
Mookie

Let’s review the facts: it’s been an incredibly warm back end to winter / start of spring. It looks like our last snowfall above 1″ will be February 16th. Not many years we can say that! And another big warm up is on the way. I love short winters and early summers!

INDY
INDY

Isn’t it great we are still talking about snow at the end of April let’s keep the talk going through May …. Welcome back by the way lol… Currently it’s 43* in my area well below average… DDDDDD INDY

Mookie
Mookie

It’s been almost 10 weeks since our last snowfall over 1″. Wow!

INDY
INDY

The end of December till March was enough playing in the snow for INDY …I’m.still waiting for Spring lol…INDY

Rocky (Rockford)
Rocky (Rockford)

Rock on INDY! Mookie loves to talk about cold and snow! I love it!

INDY
INDY

23* degrees overnight in my area January cold the furnace has been cranking hopefully soon we can open the windows back up…INDY

Rocky (Rockford)
Rocky (Rockford)

Absolutely incredible cold stretch!

Sandy (Hudsonville)
Sandy (Hudsonville)

Next Tuesday they are saying 78 degrees.

Mark (East Lansing)
Mark (East Lansing)

78 will feel very hot after the chilly temps we’ve had this week.

*SS*
*SS*

So are we safe to uncover all of our plants? They have been covered the past few days.

Rocky (Rockford)
Rocky (Rockford)

Possible freezing temps again Saturday night!

Sandy (Hudsonville)
Sandy (Hudsonville)

Nighttime is too cold. Either cover them or move them inside.

*SS*
*SS*

Thanks… thinking I may go give them a little relief, but cover them back up again. LOL!!! I can’t move my blueberry/strawberry plants inside. LOL!!! We actually have a bloom on a strawberry plant already!!!
Come on warmer than freezing nights. LOL!!!

Slim

Yesterday was one of the coldest April 21st in the area. At Grand Rapids the official high of 42 was the 3rd coldest maximum and the official low of 26 was the 5th coldest low. And the official snow fall of 0.3” was the 3rd snowiest for the date. At Holland the high/low of 41/26 was the 2nd coldest for the date. I had a overnight low this morning of 22.5 it looks like the official low at GRR was 25. That 25 will be the 4th coldest low for today and if my unofficial low of 22.5 was official… Read more »

Rocky (Rockford)
Rocky (Rockford)

Cold and snowy! Who knew?

Bernie (Hamilton)
Bernie (Hamilton)

I guess I’m ready for the snow flakes to end, but I have to agree, the past two days have been a break from ticks!
We have pulled several off of our dog this month, and they have all been deer ticks.

Sandy (Hudsonville)
Sandy (Hudsonville)

Wow already I will have to watch for them on our dog.