A band of rain showers containing isolated thunderstorms will move across Michigan today, bringing a 3 to 6-hour period of rain to most locations. Some of the smoke which has been high up in the sky the last couple of days may make it to the surface later today with the passage of a cold front. Rainfall amounts will be a tenth to a quarter inch. Another stretch of dry, sunny weather is expected next week. Areas to our west (grey and tan on the map) have air quality alerts in place for particulate matter from the Canadian forest fires to mix down to the surface.
U.S.A and Global Events for May 19th:
1780: The infamous “dark day” in New England tradition. At noon, it was nearly as dark as night. Chickens went to roost, and many persons were fearful of divine wrath. The “dark day” was caused by forest fires to the west of New England.
1915: A spring storm came to an end after producing widespread snow. Total snowfall from the storm included: 17.6 inches in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, 8 inches at Cheyenne, Wyoming, 7 inches at Chadron, and 3.9 inches in North Platte, Nebraska.
Grand Rapids Forecast
5 19 grrThe forecast guess for June is out – temperatures and rain should be near normal…
Forecast Discussion
- Scattered Showers / Isolated Thunderstorm Today...and Some Smoke Today features our only risk for rain in the next 7 days, potentially even beyond that believe it or not, and this during one of our climatologically wettest periods of the year. Most locations will not get significant rain today. The heaviest amounts look to occur along and east of I-69 where 0.20"-0.40" is possible. Elsewhere, generally 0.20" or less is expected. Regional radar imagery this morning indicates scattered showers with a few thunderstorms across Wisconsin where RAP MUCAPE values are shown to be around 100 J/kg. Similar MUCAPE values are shown ahead of the front as it enters the state this morning, and some weak surface based instability could occur early to mid afternoon near and east of I-69 where a few storms are more likely to occur than any other place. Precipitation should end from NW to SE, as early as 15z near Ludington but likely not until 00z or shortly thereafter around Jackson. No severe weather is expected today. The RAP model, which features smoke projections, indicates we could mix some elevated smoke down to the surface during the afternoon and evening hours behind the cold front. This does not look to be a major event for us, but it is worth noting that reductions to air quality are being advertised by state agencies (relayed by the NWS) across Wisconsin and Minnesota. - Prolonged Stretch of Dry Weather Looks Likely Ensemble guidance strongly favors dry weather from Saturday through the entirety of next week, potentially lasting into next weekend as well. Given the orientation of upper level heights and low level wind flow, as well as scant low/mid level RH, the region will probably be kept bone dry for many days. Drying soils and fine fuels could be a concern into next week as temperatures warm into the 80s Tuesday through Friday and dew points will likely be in the 40s. Minimum RH values could dip to 30% or below at times, so there may be some periods of elevated fire danger yet to go through.
Just got home from golfing with my son. We got wet but we still had a good time. There is a surprising amount of standing water on the course, so I think we got more than expected, fortunately.
The forecasted low tonight is only five degrees below average. I think the frost is done for the season.
Another glorious day in the 90s here in Arizona. Incredible temps!
Sounds great. Do you have any idea of the dew point?
64 currently beautiful night for a bon fire 🔥 hoodiee alert hodieee alert yeahhh INDY
Yes and today was yet another below normal temp day and lows tonight down into the mid 40’s! What a cool spell! Incredible!
We got some nice rain today. We did get a really nice down pour for maybe 15 mins. I can still see drips on deck railing.
Well my yard missed todays rain. Nothing more that a few sprinkles and that was it. The sun is now out but it looks like the smoke is still here.
Slim
Very little rain here also!
Hallelujah, it is raining! Light rain, but better than no rain. Local TV just said we’ve received just under a quarter inch so far. At least I won’t need to water the lawn tonight.
Just another cloudy, below normal temp day! Incredible cool stretch!
Yesterday was yet another below normal temp day and yet all we on hear about is more warm weather HYPE! Too funny!
I don’t know if I would call it hype. Sure we’ve some chilly days this month, but it has also hit 80 (once for GR and twice for Lansing). This month for GR, only 8 of the 18 days have been below average. Similar for Lansing, just 7 of the 18 days have been below average. Both locations are within one degree of average for the month. If anything, this month to date has been very average. However, the forecasted high temps starting Tuesday and through the end of the month are anywhere from 79-86. This month is likely to… Read more »
At least someone knows the facts!
Not my facts. I pulled them from the NWS GR’s website.
It’s been a normal May to me. A few warm/cool days as usual, but mostly around average.
Another nice day. 75 here and the sky has become hazy with a nice breeze blowing through our house. What happened to that line of showers? It broke in two with rain to the north and rain to the south. How disappointing.
We many sandhill cranes in our area. In fact, there is a Sandhill Road nearby. Anyway, their eggs have hatched. Just saw a mom and dad and two fuzzy babies out back.
Awe… When I hear the cranes I think of my Dad. We would talk about them a lot. Oh I bet they are so fuzzy. Lol
We have like 2-3 nests under our deck. Robins and finches.. I think. The parents drive the dogs crazy. Dogs bark and it drives the babies crazy. A never ending cycle. Lol.
Hoping we get some rain back home. Not good when you start slipping into a dry pattern.
Meanwhile here in Arizona it was around 97-99 across the Phoenix metro yesterday. Beautiful sunny skies till around 6pm it clouded over and thunderstorms approached. Gusty winds and some rain. We even had a Significant weather advisory. It’s 6:30am here (Arizona doesn’t do the time change like we do otherwise they would be only 2 hours behind). At 6:30 it’s already 74 degrees.
I hope you plan on hiking Piestewa Peak in Phoenix. It’s especially beautiful around sunset. Bring a flashlight and you hike down in the dark.
Horrendous temperatures!
Accu(less)weather has us above average from Sunday until the end of the month. I’d imagine planting will 100% be OK from next week and beyond
It’s been a warm May. Still on track for our 13th warm month in a row!
And that’s before this huge blowtorch coming!
This May we have seen plenty of below normal temps, freeze warnings and frost advisories! Definitely still in a cool pattern! Incredible!
My furnace os still running what the heck lol..INDY
Oh yes, furnace till late May! Incredible!
Man for both of you guys loving the cold, you guys keep your houses toasty hot! My furnace has been off for a month now.
Yes loving this this no furnace or ac right now. I think we turned on ax once for a few hours because there wasn’t much of a breeze. Lol.
Same here. There’s been a couple of nights where we’ve thrown a blanket on the bed. Then again, our home is well insulated.
Furnace? LOL You’re doing it wrong.
Hoping we get some rain today! There really isn’t a good chance in the foreseeable future. Like the AFD mentions, next week looks warm with low dew points… hopefully we don’t start contributing to that wildfire smoke
Not a drop as the “rain” went by today. Terrible.
If you do not get any rain today you might not get any rain for the next 7 to 10 days. There looks to be a long dry spell and we will have to start watering the grass and gardens. As can be the case when it is dry it looks to also become very warm with highs in the 80’s but with low DP’s it will not feel too bad. Lows will be cooler with the dry air. Could we see a pattern like 1988?
Slim
Oh man. Barry and I are both class of 1988. You don’t need to remind us how hot and dry that summer was.
Yup! I don’t like dry weather. Areas of my yard are already shriveled. Garden needs lots of water and food plots and pastures suffer. And today doesn’t look good for me. The rainfall estimates constantly shrink.
For today the average H/L is 71/50 the record high of 91 was set in 1977 and the record low of 30 was set in 2002. The record rain fall amount of 2.85” fell in 1938. So far May is above average at Muskegon and Lansing. Just about average at Holland. It is below average at Grand Rapids, Flint, Detroit and Saginaw.
Slim
Once again yesterday had a lot of smoke and even with 58% of possible sunshine it looked cloudy almost all day. The official H/L was 69/38 there was no rain fall and the day had 0 Cooling Degree Days and 13 Heating Degree Days. The overnight low fell to 51 before rising to the current reading of 56.
Slim
More below normal temps today and this weekend! The incredible cool pattern may finally break next week! Wow, just wow, WOW!!!!
TGIF. The weather has been spectacular the past two weeks, and next week (and possibly beyond) looks great with continued sunshine and even warmer temps (mid 80s for Memorial Day weekend?). You gotta take the good with the bad. While all this sun has been great, the ground is really drying up. I’m watering my lawn now. NWS GR says that after today, we may not get rain again for a week or maybe more. We’re putting the boats in the water this weekend and my son and I have two tee times scheduled. Our daughter is coming home from… Read more »
It could be that the dryness will be the bigger weather issue this summer! If so we could have some very warm days but maybe cooler nights. We shall see.
Slim
I forgot to mention: possible northern lights next week.
Oooh… I hope so. Kiddo has been saying I want to see them!!!
From MLive two days ago:
https://www.mlive.com/weather/2023/05/massive-eruption-on-sun-could-make-it-northern-lights-time.html