This is the space shuttle Altantis
Before we took our cruise, we stayed for two nights at Cocoa Beach, Florida. The first night at Cocoa Beach was a cold one with the low that night in the 30’s. Yes we did have the heat on in our room for a while that night (did not have to keep it on all night) The next day we went to the Kennedy Space Center I enjoyed the visit for the most part. While nice to visit in reality there is not all that much to see and do there. The old rockets are nice to look at and some of the exhibits are interesting for some reason the “wow” factor for me seemed to be missing. I should add the complex is big and spread out. So you have to take a bus tour to see as much of the complex that you are allowed to see. Of note on the day we went was that there was a launch that night so that made it a little more interesting. As for that launch yes I was able to see it from the street on the north side of the motel we were at. I did enjoy seeing that as even though we were about 20 some miles away. Before the rocket took off the sky in the north turned a white/orange color for a few seconds before the rocket took off. After lift off you could track the flight thru the nigh sky. The rocket made a SE turn and flew almost overhead before disappearing. The sad part is I left my phone in the room and could not take a picture of the take off.
Here is some interesting weather data for Grand Rapids according to Weather Spark.
Average Weather in Grand Rapids Michigan, United States
In Grand Rapids, the summers are warm and partly cloudy and the winters are freezing, dry, windy, and mostly cloudy. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 18°F to 83°F and is rarely below 3°F or above 90°F.
the best time of year to visit Grand Rapids for warm-weather activities is from mid June to early September.
Temperature
The warm season lasts for 3.8 months, from May 22 to September 17, with an average daily high temperature above 72°F. The hottest day of the year is July 19, with an average high of 83°F and low of 63°F.
The cold season lasts for 3.3 months, from December 1 to March 9, with an average daily high temperature below 41°F. The coldest day of the year is January 29, with an average low of 18°F and high of 30°F.
Clouds
In Grand Rapids, the average percentage of the sky covered by clouds experiences significant seasonal variation over the course of the year.
The clearer part of the year in Grand Rapids begins around May 16 and lasts for 5.6 months, ending around November 5. On August 7, the clearest day of the year, the sky is clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy 67% of the time, and overcast or mostly cloudy 33% of the time.
The cloudier part of the year begins around November 5 and lasts for 6.4 months, ending around May 16. On January 7, the cloudiest day of the year, the sky is overcast or mostly cloudy 69% of the time, and clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy 31% of the time.
Precipitation
A wet day is one with at least 0.04 inches of liquid or liquid-equivalent precipitation. The chance of wet days in Grand Rapids varies throughout the year.
The wetter season lasts 8.4 months, from March 30 to December 11, with a greater than 25% chance of a given day being a wet day. The chance of a wet day peaks at 33% on May 24.
The drier season lasts 3.6 months, from December 11 to March 30. The smallest chance of a wet day is 17% on February 8.
Among wet days, we distinguish between those that experience rain alone, snow alone, or a mixture of the two. Based on this categorization, the most common form of precipitation in Grand Rapids changes throughout the year.
Rain alone is the most common for 10 months, from February 17 to December 21. The highest chance of a day with rain aloneis 33% on May 24.
Snow alone is the most common for 1.9 months, from December 21 to February 17. The highest chance of a day with snow alone is 12% on January 14
Rainfall
To show variation within the months and not just the monthly totals, we show the rainfall accumulated over a sliding 31-day period centered around each day of the year. Grand Rapids experiences significant seasonal variation in monthly rainfall.
Rain falls throughout the year in Grand Rapids. The most rain falls during the 31 days centered around September 23, with an average total accumulation of 3.3 inches.
The least rain falls around January 27, with an average total accumulation of 0.7 inches.
Snowfall
We report snowfall in liquid-equivalent terms. The actual depth of new snowfall is typically between 5 and 10 times the liquid-equivalent amount, assuming the ground is frozen. Colder, drier snow tends to be on the higher end of that range and warmer, wetter snow on the lower end.
As with rainfall, we consider the snowfall accumulated over a sliding 31-day period centered around each day of the year. Grand Rapids experiences some seasonal variation in monthly liquid-equivalent snowfall.
The snowy period of the year lasts for 5.0 months, from November 8 to April 7, with a sliding 31-day liquid-equivalent snowfall of at least 0.1 inches. The most snow falls during the 31 days centered around January 8, with an average total liquid-equivalent accumulation of 0.7 inches.
The snowless period of the year lasts for 7.0 months, from April 7 to November 8. The least snow falls around July 21, with an average total liquid-equivalent accumulation of 0.0 inches.
Based on the tourism score, the best time of year to visit Grand Rapids for warm-weather activities is from mid June to early September
Temperature
The warm season lasts for 3.8 months, from May 22 to September 17, with an average daily high temperature above 72°F. The hottest day of the year is July 19, with an average high of 83°F and low of 63°F.
The cold season lasts for 3.3 months, from December 1 to March 9, with an average daily high temperature below 41°F. The coldest day of the year is January 29, with an average low of 18°F and high of 30
In Grand Rapids, the average percentage of the sky covered by clouds experiences significant seasonal variation over the course of the year.
The clearer part of the year in Grand Rapids begins around May 16 and lasts for 5.6 months, ending around November 5. On August 7, the clearest day of the year, the sky is clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy 67% of the time, and overcast or mostly cloudy 33% of the time.
The cloudier part of the year begins around November 5 and lasts for 6.4 months, ending around May 16. On January 7, the cloudiest day of the year, the sky is overcast or mostly cloudy 69% of the time, and clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy 31% of the time.
Precipitation
A wet day is one with at least 0.04 inches of liquid or liquid-equivalent precipitation. The chance of wet days in Grand Rapids varies throughout the year.
The wetter season lasts 8.4 months, from March 30 to December 11, with a greater than 25% chance of a given day being a wet day. The chance of a wet day peaks at 33% on May 24.
The drier season lasts 3.6 months, from December 11 to March 30. The smallest chance of a wet day is 17% on February 8.
Among wet days, we distinguish between those that experience rain alone, snow alone, or a mixture of the two. Based on this categorization, the most common form of precipitation in Grand Rapids changes throughout the year.
Rain alone is the most common for 10 months, from February 17 to December 21. The highest chance of a day with rain aloneis 33% on May 24.
Snow alone is the most common for 1.9 months, from December 21 to February 17. The highest chance of a day with snow alone is 12% on January 14.
Rainfall
To show variation within the months and not just the monthly totals, we show the rainfall accumulated over a sliding 31-day period centered around each day of the year. Grand Rapids experiences significant seasonal variation in monthly rainfall.
Rain falls throughout the year in Grand Rapids. The most rain falls during the 31 days centered around September 23, with an average total accumulation of 3.3 inches.
The least rain falls around January 27, with an average total accumulation of 0.7 inches.
Snowfall
We report snowfall in liquid-equivalent terms. The actual depth of new snowfall is typically between 5 and 10 times the liquid-equivalent amount, assuming the ground is frozen. Colder, drier snow tends to be on the higher end of that range and warmer, wetter snow on the lower end.
As with rainfall, we consider the snowfall accumulated over a sliding 31-day period centered around each day of the year. Grand Rapids experiences some seasonal variation in monthly liquid-equivalent snowfall.
The snowy period of the year lasts for 5.0 months, from November 8 to April 7, with a sliding 31-day liquid-equivalent snowfall of at least 0.1 inches. The most snow falls during the 31 days centered around January 8, with an average total liquid-equivalent accumulation of 0.7 inches.
The snowless period of the year lasts for 7.0 months, from April 7 to November 8. The least snow falls around July 21, with an average total liquid-equivalent accumulation of 0.0 inches.
Average Liquid-Equivalent Monthly Snowfall
snowsnowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec0.0 in0.5 in1.0 in1.5 in2.0 in2.5 in3.0 in3.5 inJan 80.7 inJan 80.7 inJul 210.0 inJul 210.0 inNov 80.1 inNov 80.1 inApr 70.1 inApr 70.1 in
Sun
The length of the day in Grand Rapids varies significantly over the course of the year. In 2018, the shortest day is December 21, with 9 hours, 0 minutes of daylight; the longest day is June 21, with 15 hours, 22 minutes of daylight.
Slim
Looking very promising!
http://wxcaster.com/gis-snow-overlays2.php?STATIONID=GRR
The SNOW just keeps coming! We are getting pounded with SNOW currently! What a winter!
WWW updated and area expanded. Also, expected snowfall amounts have increased too.
This has been a simply AWESOME week of winter weather! Plenty of off and on snow all week and temps in the teens and 20’2! Perfect for winter sports! INCREDIBLE!
GO GREEN!
MSU has a lot of potential this year however so does Purdue, U of M and Ohio State!
From the GR NWS!
ww.weather.gov/images/erh/gis/GRR_Snow.png
Bring it! The SNOW just keeps coming! What a winter and what a February to remember! ROCK n ROLL will never die!
http://wxcaster.com/gis-gfs-snow-overlays2.php?STATIONID=GRR
Just getting shoveled and plowed out here – and we have another WWA for early tomorrow.
Ok here are some current seasonal snow fall totals from around Michigan (as of this morning)
Grand Rapids 62.6”. Muskegon 86.7”, Lansing 40.4”, Detroit 50.4”, Flint 60.2” Saginaw 27.2”, Alpena 33.9” , Houghton Lake 30.7”, Sault Ste Marie 82.3”, Gaylord 90.3”, Traverse City 81.7” West Branch 24.0”, Petoskey 97.0” Marquette 111.3” Houghton 114.3”
While parts of southern Michigan are doing well compared to “average” northern Michigan is mostly well below average snow fall wise this winter season.
Slim
Snow fall totals:
Kalamazoo 7.8
NWS nailed that forecast.
Cool pics of The Space Shuttle Slim!! I’d like to see that some day!
Hey Slim, what’s your snow measurement at your place this morning??
Last reading for me was 11.4″
Slim
Ok, I took a few readings around my yard last night after work and I am sitting at 8.5 inches of snow in Northwest Kent County. So I probably got like 2.5 to 3 inches of snow yesterday.
This winter sure is ROCKING! Above normal snowfall and tons more on the way! Bring it!
Not really…..Per Bill:
The coming week looks mostly dry…with the Euro. printing out 0.01″ of snow Tues. night and 0.01″ of rain Weds. night. That model has the next decent storm around the 19th with that being mostly rain.
As I mentioned before the EURO model is worthless and we have a 3 to 5 inch snowstorm on the way for this weekend! Just the facts!
Yawn…..wake me up when it’s spring…and 2 or 3 inches of snow ain’t a snowstorm! Wednesday and Thursday look fantastic though!! Plenty of WARMTH & MELTING!!
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=43.119290000000035&lon=-85.55814999999996#.Wn9e1XBOmEc
https://days.to/until/spring
The snow just keeps coming even as you no snow is on the way!
http://www.weather.gov/images/erh/gis/LP_state_Snow.png