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Reminisces & Weather History

Posted on by MichaelV (Otsego)

Today is weather history day, however I thought I would reminiscence on the days of old and how much things have changed since the advent of the first industrial age.

Looking back through history I would have to say we are lucky to be alive in this day and age.  I was born in the beginning of the space age a couple years before the Russians launched Sputnik in 1957 (feature image).  My great grand father was born into the second industrial age when steam and coal power had taken off and moved forward to the growth of industries, such as coal, iron, railroads and textiles, into the the expansion of electricity, petroleum and steel.  My grandfather saw the first cars, electricity and other modern conveniences come into being.  Since his time we moved from an agrarian to a more focused city based society. 

In our modern times we live longer because of better sanitation and medicine.  In ancient Greek and Roman times life expectancy was thought to be between 20 to 35 years.  Infant mortality was around 30%.  Even up through the 1800s one could expect to be lucky to make their 45th birthday due to disease and infections.

Early years up to the age of about 15 were perilous, thanks to risks posed by disease, injuries, and accidents. People who survived this hazardous period of life could well make it into old age.  People worked harder physically and their bodies wore down.  My grandfather lived to be 82 and my great grandfather to 90, however in my lifetime I saw many other older relatives and their friends pass in their 60s.  Now we can have a life expectancy of around 80.

In the past infectious diseases like cholera, tuberculosis, and smallpox would limit longevity, but none on a scale quite as damaging of the bubonic plague in the 14th century. The Black Plague moved through Asia and Europe, and wiped out as much as a third of Europe’s population, temporarily shifting life expectancy downward.

I remember the days in elementary school lining up for vaccinations for TB, polio and smallpox which are all wiped out in our day and age.  We have moved from sulfa powers and colloidal silver to antibiotics to fight infections though antibiotics are becoming less effective over time as bacterial disease finds ways to defeat them.

Now my children and grand children live in the age of computers and cars which drive themselves.  We have given our lives over to machines and electronic devices.  I wonder what life will be like as my grand children get older…

Weather History

November 11

1911: A tornado outbreak strikes the Midwest, killing more than a dozen people. Nine people are killed as a violent tornado hits Janesville, Wisconsin. Within an hour, survivors of the storm were digging out in near-blizzard conditions with zero degree temperatures. In Michigan, a tornado kills two people and injures 21 others as it destroys five factories and 21 homes in the northern part of Owosso in Shiawassee County. Another tornado hits southeast of Battle Creek in Calhoun County, leveling barns and taking the roofs off homes. A tornado near Kingsland in Eaton County kills cattle and horses.

1940: The Armistice Day storm strikes with hurricane force winds, producing blizzard conditions across Minnesota and mountainous waves on Lake Michigan, where five vessels are lost, claiming 66 lives.

1995: A strong cold front passage is followed by high winds and lake effect snow. From three to seven inches of snow fell across Ottawa and Kent Counties in a six hour period. The heavy snowfall combined with high winds caused widespread power outages due to tree limbs falling and lines breaking. In South Haven a garage roof was destroyed by a falling tree. Power outages affected more than 50,000 people.

November 12

1873: Winter arrives early with 5 inches of snow at Lansing, followed by a string of record lows in the single digits, including a 1 degree reading on the morning of the 13th.

November 13

1986: High temperatures are held in the upper teens to lower 20s as arctic air pours into Lower Michigan. The high of 19 degrees at Grand Rapids is a record for the date and the coldest high temperature for so early in the season.

November 14

1908: Heavy snow falls across western Lower Michigan with a total of 16 inches at Muskegon, a record total for any November day.

November 15

1933: Michigan is in the grip of a four day cold snap. The low of 10 degrees at Grand Rapids only rises to 18 degrees during the afternoon as lake effect snow showers swirl around and an icy northwest wind makes it feel even colder.

November 16

1959: A vast area of arctic high pressure brings record cold to much of the continental United States. High temperatures only reach the teens across much of Lower Michigan followed by record lows in the single digits on the morning of the 17th.

November 17

1989: Grand Rapids picks up seven inches of snow, bringing accumulations during a three day storm to over a foot.

2013: A squall line of severe thunderstorms moved through Lower Michigan during the afternoon bringing widespread wind damage. Hundreds of trees were knocked down and thousands lost power from downbursts and brief tornadoes along the line of storms.

 

Category: Michigan Weather Forecast

26 thoughts on “Reminisces & Weather History”

  5. No worries…on our way through the warmest November, in all recorded human history…regardless.

  7. Hey Uncle slim what is the coldest Fall on record for GR? I’m thinking this one will be up there thanks INDYDOG14!

  8. Dallas Texas had it’s earliest frezze since 1993 this year so far this is a 12 coldest November going in Chicago history GR has not had a above normal day in November yet wow! Winter is Rocking!! INDYDOG14!!

    2. I was stationed down that way in 1993 when I was in the US Army. I remember that cold. Totally uncharacteristic. Of course, the preceding summer was blistering hot.

  9. Who would of thought 1-2 inches of snow expected tonight in GR ..Winter in November incredible INDYDOG14!

  10. 19* degrees and 7 inches of snow on the ground in Marquette Michigan Winter storm warnings for St Louis Missouri Winter is kicking it in November .. INDYDOG14!!

    1. And just like every Winter season over the past few years, the ground is bare and green here.

  11. Looks like it stays cool next week no big warm up like some of the critics been saying
    for weeks now maybe 44* now on Thanksgiving seeing it drop back off the following week with more snow and cold who would of thought!! INDYDOG14!!

          1. Again like I said don’t count on it berry get outside enjoy the cold no sloppy snow to hide from lol! INDYDOG14!

          2. I would believe their forecasts over your inaccurate posts. And yes I did enjoy the outdoors this afternoon. Went out and ran 3 miles.

  12. Wow we have sunshine with losing about 4 minutes of day light we don’t get a lot of sunny days or long enough sunny days still cold 23* degrees out at thee YARDofBRICKS nother cold morning we will take the sun! INDYDOG14!!

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