Rain Likely Today 5/20

Weather History

1975: A tornado injured one person as it destroyed two mobile homes at Byron Center in Kent County.

1977: The last half of May is unusually warm. Record high temperatures in the upper 80s and lower 90s are set across Lower Michigan from the 16th to the 28th. This helps make it the warmest May on record at Grand Rapids.

On May 20, 1996, lightning in a thunderstorm that passed through Richfield Township at 2:53 p.m. injured one person.

Forecast Discussion

We have rain moving into the southwestern portion of the state this morning at 7 am.  Rain will continue off and on throughout the day with a chance of a non-violent storm in the late afternoon.  Temperatures will be on the cool side in the low to mid-50s.

- Cool, Wet and Windy Today

The main forecast question today remains the timing and track of
the incoming precipitation. Models remain consistent with the
negatively tilted upper level low and corresponding sfc low moving
from the southwest to the north east this afternoon. A strong
moisture field remains on the leading edge of that low which will
advect through southern Lower this afternoon. Expect rain to begin
from the southwest and overspread the area through the day and
into this evening.
 The precipitation amounts remain fairly consistent with the
heaviest rainfall occuring this afternoon, though in that 6 hour
timeframe it should be two to three tenths. Overall this should
be a soaking rain with amounts ranging between a half an inch to
three quarters of an inch. Some ensembles do show slightly higher
amounts with at most an inch an a half, however those are outliers
and no flooding is expected. The other forecast concern is gusty
winds this morning and through the afternoon. As the low moves
into the region this morning there remains a strong pressure
gradient as the high is pushed eastward. A low level jet of 45 to
50 kts will be sitting around 2 to 3KFT. Couple with the moisture
boundary and the mixing aloft and gusts of 30 to 40 mph winds will
be possible. There is some limiting factors but given precip
loading we may need a wind advisory. Have held off for now give
the eastern flow though some of the ensemble members briefly reach
into the 40s. The gustiest winds will be west of US 131,
especially along the lakeshore.

- Rain lingers through tomorrow

Winds will slight with the heaviest rain showers and the area
becomes more stable and light rain will persist through tomorrow
as the low cycles through the Mid Atlantic. Cold, wet weather
will continue on the backside of the low with rain finally
tapering off late Wednesday, early Thursday.

- Colder temps linger with warmth ahead

Cooler than normal temperatures will persist through the week with
temperatures 10 to 20 degrees below normal. Highs should remain in
the 50s through the work week, finally rebounding into the low to
mid 60s heading into the holiday weekend.