Independence Day – Heat Advisory

 

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First off lets look at our weekly history feature for the first week of July:

July 1

1999: A weak tornado made intermittent touchdowns during the early afternoon in Newaygo County. A few tree limbs were downed, but otherwise there were no damage reports, as the tornado remained over rural areas.

2009: The coolest July in Grand Rapids history begins with a record cool high of only 64 degrees as clouds and scattered showers prevail.

July 2

1973: A tornado struck two miles east of Leslie in Ingham County, damaging a car, mobile home and several farm buildings.

2001: Frost and freezing temperatures were observed in some locations with a 29 degree temperature recorded in Grant, Michigan in Newaygo County. The 39 degrees at Muskegon was the coldest July temperature on record there.

2008: A line of severe thunderstorms brought high winds, large hail, and some flooding from Muskegon to Grand Rapids and Lansing, south to Kalamazoo. In western Allegan County, winds estimated up to 75 mph brought down dozens of trees and snapped eight power poles. A roof was blown off a home in Kalamazoo County. Hail up to 1.75 inches in diameter caused damage in Muskegon County.

July 3

1966: A five day heat wave peaked with temperatures in the upper 90s. The high of 99 degrees set a daily record at Lansing, the second in a row following a high of 98 degrees on the 2nd.

July 4

1911: The phrase Hot as the Fourth of July gains new meaning as temperatures soar to near 100 degrees, for Michigan’s hottest Independence Day on record.

1969: Nature’s fireworks turn violent as severe thunderstorms form in the evening and drop several tornadoes across Lower Michigan. More than 60 people are injured, most of them from a tornado that hit Flat Rock in southern Wayne County. This tornado destroyed a tile factory, carrying sheet metal over a mile. Another tornado injured eleven people about four miles east of Jackson as it damaged a dozen mobile homes.

1974: Tornadoes strike Lower Michigan during the early afternoon. One person is injured as a tornado damages several houses between Charlotte and Potterville in Eaton County. Tornadoes also damage barns and outbuildings in Huron and Tuscola Counties.

1977: A widespread severe weather outbreak hit Lower Michigan with tornadoes and downbursts. Two people were injured and almost a million dollars damage was done. A tornado injured one person and destroyed two mobile homes and one barn near Maple Ridge in Arenac County. Another person was inured by a tornado at Otisville in Genesee County as four mobile homes were destroyed there. Two homes and a camper unit were heavily damaged as a tornado moved from southern Isabella County into northern Montcalm County, ending northeast of Vestaburg.

2003: The July 4th holiday turns tragic as seven people drown in rip currents on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. A line of thunderstorms earlier in the day had produced strong winds across the middle of the lake, and the dangerous currents formed several hours later.

July 5

1921: A record high of 100 degrees at Grand Rapids contributes to July 1921 becoming the warmest month on record there with a mean temperature of 79.8 degrees.

1972: Temperatures fell to record lows in the upper 30s and lower 40s across the region. The 37 degrees at Lansing was the coldest July reading of the 20th century there.

1994: Thunderstorms with hail and heavy rain pound areas of West Michigan. The 3.56 inches of rain at Grand Rapids makes this the wettest July day on record.

1921: One person was injured by a tornado that destroyed three barns while passing north of Alma and Saint Louis in Gratiot County.

July 6

1983: Cool high pressure settles over Lower Michigan and temperatures fall to record lows. The 41 degrees at Grand Rapids is the lowest ever recorded during the month of July for the Furniture City.

2014: Severe thunderstorms roll through on the night of July 6-7th. At least four tornadoes struck from near Grand Rapids to Saint Johns. A tornado with top winds estimated at 110 mph did heavy damage in the Grand Rapids suburb of Kentwood.

July 7

1991: Tornadoes strike across southern Lower Michigan. A tornado damaged about 20 homes near Highland in Oakland County. More damage occurred near Okemos in Ingham County and a home and some outbuildings were damaged as a tornado moved northeast of Rockford in Kent County. A tornado also briefly touched down northwest of Plainwell in Allegan County but did no damage.

1988: Lower Michigan is in the midst of another heat wave as the hot and dry summer of 1988 continues. Temperatures peak at 100 degrees on the 6th at Lansing and Grand Rapids, followed by a record high of 98 degrees on the 7th at Grand Rapids.

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We shot off our fireworks last night with a ‘feels like’ temperature in the 80s.  I had the sprinkler set up in the front yard for the grand kids to play in to keep cool – I was in there with them.  I built a small campfire for ambiance and to cook hot dogs, no one hung around it for long.  A brief shot of rain moved east of Otsego, we had a bit of light rain on the west side then there was a rainbow – this was around 8pm when I was trying to build the fire.

Today will be hot! Heat indexes will be around 100° thus we have another heat advisory for today.  Thunderstorms are expected this afternoon but they should later move east of the area and dissipate before nighttime fireworks. The exception might be far southwest Lower Michigan including South Haven, Kalamazoo, and Battle Creek where another round of thunderstorms might move into the area after dark. Keep an eye to the sky and remember to stay hydrated!

The heat and humidity will last through Thursday before relief arrives on Friday.  During this time frame, showers and thunderstorms will be possible. Severe weather is not likely, however some locally heavy downpours will be likely. Cooler and drier air will arrive for Friday behind a cold front. Dry air will last through the weekend, while temperatures slowly warm back up a little.

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