As I said the other day long range models (GFS) have been pointing to a cooling trend for the rest of the month into the first week of September. The CPC is locking in on this for their guess for the next couple weeks. For the next week we have equal chances of normal/above normal/below normal temps with a 48% chance of above normal rainfall.
Getting into middle of next week there is a 48% chance of below normal temperatures with near normal rainfall. Normal temps for Grand Rapids are 76/54 for the first week of September. Keep in mind the models are picking up on a warm-up back into the 80s on September 5th so we are probably not done with the heat.
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So this tells me we will be continuing with out pattern of up and down temps as be close out meteorological summer and get into at least early fall.
I started deconstructing my deck yesterday and replacing the 20 year old deck boards which has been no easy task for this old body. I generally use screws when I build something but even after 20 years the screws don’t remove easily. I am ending up cutting chunks out with a circular saw leaving the framework in place. Twisty nails are worse as they are meant to be in place almost forever. Crowbars and hammers and mallets have been my friends. When I build something it is meant to be durable which can attest to the grunt-work of removal. I have been doing a lot of repairs this summer and am looking forward to some cooler less humid days. I use mainly battery operated power tools now – I do have a 40 year old electric circular saw which is a heavy beast compared to what is in use today – this is what I use for ‘heavy work’. If that doesn’t work a chainsaw works nicely 😈
The high dew points will be exiting our area bringing pleasant temps and sunny skies through Sunday, our next chance of rain come Monday of next week.
My electric bill is virtually the same as last year. I have rarely needed to turn on my ac all year (maybe 6 or 7 times) yet I hear people complaining about the hot summer. Very few 90 degree days and just a few humid days! Incredible!
So you like to sweat, others of us do not. After working all day in 100 degree heat you’d better believe I want the ac cranked when I get home.
The great summer weather keeps rocking and rolling! Keep it coming!
I’m heading to Ludington for the weekend should be interesting to see how warm the beach and lk Michigan will be I’m loving the fact that I’m packing my hoodie for at night should be a perfect fire weather with some cold Sprites the weather will be a taste of Fall delight up north …INDY
Have a fun trip.
11am 66* degrees out at thee YARDofBRICKS NE of GR ahhhh I will drink a Sprite to that don’t get much nicer then this during Summer! Perrrfettt outside! INDY!
I like to keep track of how much electric we use from one Summer to the next, just as a means of comparing year to year. For this year, our June electric usage was down 10% from last year, July was 34% up from last year (we actually received a notice from Consumers that our usage was way up), and so far August is 22% over last year. Definitely a longer warm stretch over last year, and July was second only to July of 2012. I do the same in the Winter with regards to how much wood we burn.… Read more »
The AC cost sounds about right as the cooling degree days last year vs this year June 168 CDD’s last year 101 this year. July 303 last year 332 this year and August 271 for all of August last year 174 so far this year.
Slim
As for last winter the departure from average last January was -2.6° for February the departure was -1.2 For July this summer the departure was +2.9 and so far this August the departure is at +1.5 so in the long run this summer has not been that much above average then last winter was below average.
Slim
January’s stats were kind of misleading because of the extreme cold the last week that really dropped the averages. If you look at it with regards to how many days did we need to burn wood vs how many we did not need to, there were more we didn’t need to so there was less wood used. Just like last Summer there were cool days mixed in vs this year when we had a 50 some day streak with no breaks.
I still haven’t fully grasped the heating and cooling degree days yet. Maybe you or MV could do a post sometime explaining it better.
Barry, I will have some information on heating and cooling degree days in my post on Saturday. Also I have not received a reply on how the NWS calculates the daily average but in a site on the subject they use the term the daily high added to the daily low and divide by 2 so that very well could be what they use.
Slim
Wish they would reply now that we’re curious about it. Thanks Slim!
I agree MV, it has not been pleasant weather for doing outdoor projects this year. This Spring it seemed to rain about every day for a couple months, then the pattern switched instantly to hot and humid. I’ve had several things waiting till the air dries out to work on, maybe I can finally get to them now. It’s been a long stretch of wet and sweat.
How about short term hard for some to take in I know but Fall is in air have to love it!! highs in the 70’s lows in the 40’s and it dark by 9pm now who would of thought?? …Have a super Thursday …INDY!!
yes Indy, The end of meteorological summer summer is just around the corner.
Slim
In other weather news I still have not gotten a answer as to how the NWS comes up with their daily average temperatures (I have asked the question in two emails) so I cannot say for sure how they come up with the days average so they must think it is either a stupid question (just add the high/low and then divide by 2) or they do not want to give out that information. For some reason I do not think they add each hours readings and divide by the number of readings they have but then again maybe they… Read more »
In Bill’s blog today there is a list of cities from the sunniest to the cloudiest. And wow I know Grand Rapids was cloudy in the winter but I did not realize just how cloudy compared to the rest of the US. Here in GR we only get 46% of the possible sunshine (on average) for the year. Here is the list.
https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/ccd-data/pctposrank.txt
Slim
GR is tied for 6th cloudiest city in the lower 48. If you like the sun, you are living in the wrong place.
very cloudy from mid October to late February. Detroit is Michigan’s sunniest location as SE Michigan gets more sun in the winter time than the west side of the state.
Slim
The site is awesome. It compares the climate against any cities you select. Comparing GR and Detroit, you can see Detroit is consistently warmer throughout the year and has a several week longer growing season. GR averages more clouds, more rain, and more snow. And you are correct. While there isn’t much difference in sun between May to August, Detroit receives much more sun between September and April.
https://weatherspark.com/compare/y/15379~16530/Comparison-of-the-Average-Weather-in-Grand-Rapids-and-Detroit