Michigan Weather History – 4/15

Weather History

1943: Temperatures plunge into the teens as snowflakes swirl in the arctic winds. Record lows include 16 degrees at Muskegon and 18 degrees at Grand Rapids.

2002: A four day stretch of record warm weather peaks across Lower Michigan with Grand Rapids hitting 86 degrees and Lansing 84.

2018: A late season winter storm brought up to 4 inches of snow, 2 inches of sleet and almost half an inch of icing along with strong winds across Lower Michigan from the 14th to the 17th. Almost half a million people lost power.

On April 15, 2023, a period of anomalously warm early April conditions came to an end. High temperatures in the 80s set new records at Detroit, Flint, and Saginaw, on April 12, 13, 14, and 15. This was the second warmest start to April on record at Flint and Saginaw, behind 2010.

On April 15, 2014, light snowfall, the last of the season, blanketed Southeast Michigan. Detroit and Flint received 3.2″ and 1.3″, setting a new record for the snowiest winter at each location. Detroit recorded 94.9″ for the 2013-2014 winter season while Flint finished with 83.9″. Saginaw would eventually finish the season at 60.3″, its 15th snowiest winter.

Also on April 15, 1904, a two day snowstorm ended in Saginaw. The storm left the city with 12.5 inches of snow.

Also on April 15, 1976, the county of Midland was hit by an F1 tornado at 3:30 PM causing $25,000 in property damage.

SPC Friday Forecast

Forecast Discussion

Rain and snow showers will start off the day at most locations. They will then taper off late this morning and early this afternoon. Gusty winds will continue through the day from the west and northwest up to 35 to 40 mph. Quieter weather can be expected on Wednesday with milder temperatures and plenty of sunshine.

- Tuesday Morning Rain/Snow, Cool and Breezy

A sharp shortwave trough propagating over Lower Michigan early this
morning with cold air advection and deeper moisture will enable
precipitation to become more widespread. Totals will be relatively
higher in West Michigan, particularly west and north of Big Rapids
where a slight amount of lake enhancement and terrain enhancement
may drive amounts to 0.15 to 0.20 inches, while elsewhere should
stay 0.10 or less. Wet-bulb temperatures will be marginally cold
enough this morning for snow north of M-20, while rain or rain/snow
mix occurs south. An inch of wet snow accumulation is possible in
the higher elevations of central Michigan, mainly north of Baldwin-
Evart.

Precip will be suppressed by mid-day by shortwave ridging and drying
midlevels, but flurries north / sprinkles south remain possible
through the afternoon into evening, as another (weaker) shortwave
trough passes through to help deepen and enhance lift within the
lingering stratocumulus. Northwest winds should gust above 30 mph
again today, while temperatures will be markedly cooler than
yesterday.

- Potential for Severe Thunderstorms Friday

Ensembles have been in fair agreement in the larger-scale pattern
later this week that supports the potential for thunderstorms from
late Thursday night into late Friday. There should be a phased
positively tilted trough from Hudson Bay to the western US by
Friday, with downstream shortwaves rippling through the central
Plains to Midwest. Warmer temperatures and moderate moisture in the
lower levels will return to our area while an EML plume in the mid-
levels helps build MUCAPE over 1000 J/kg, though should be just warm
enough to serve as a cap for much of the day. Surface troughing and
a frontal system will be draped from western Ontario through the
Midwest into the central Plains Friday morning, while a couple of
lows tend to consolidate during the day. One such low may develop in
the vicinity of Wisconsin, with a warm front possibly extending into
southern Michigan.

There may be just enough MUCAPE for elevated convection late
Thursday night or early Friday morning. The potential for severe
thunderstorms may occur Friday afternoon/evening under the condition
of late morning elevated convection ending/moving away and of low-
level cyclogenesis occurring over Wisconsin under a strengthening
500 mb jet. Both low-level and deep layer shear should be present,
with perhaps slightly curved hodographs in the low levels late in
the day. All convective hazards could be possible, particularly in
the case of a warm front surging into Lower Michigan.