Our boring weather pattern continues and many look to the sky asking why!!??. With no changes in site, the pattern we are experiencing can be quite depressing especially with no sunshine. You have probably heard the term Rex blocking thrown out there, well here is an explanation of the term.
The Rex blocking we are experiencing is more east situated than the graphic below but the results are the same.
Rex blocks are characterized by a high-pressure system located pole-ward of a low-pressure system. The Rex block will remain nearly stationary until one of the height centers changes intensity, unbalancing the high-over-low pattern.
Unsettled, stormy weather is usually found near the low pressure while dry conditions are typical with the high-pressure. Strong, particularly persistent Rex blocks can cause flooding near the low-pressure part of the block and short-term drought under the high-pressure part.
In our case, the area of high pressure is located in the northern CONUS giving us our bland weather pattern. With the lakes surrounding us, snow on the ground and above freezing temps we have fog and low clouds above keeping the sun hidden.
I did see the sun for several minutes yesterday which was welcomed though short-lived. Though mostly cloudy conditions may prevail right on through next week we may experience times of sun from time to time. Our current weather pattern will probably hang around through the end of next week, though there are hints of a change coming towards the end of next week I am still not overly excited about it until the time gets closer to becoming a reality. My forecast graphic at the top of the blog hasn’t had to change much this past week with the exception of the date which has made things easier though I would like to spice it up with something more exciting than a cloud…
Nice day today. I love it when the sun peeks out. This mild winter can stick around. 🙂
38 degrees and partly sunny again for the second day in a row. Just finished washing one car and now I’ll wash the other one. Best January ever!
Rexblock = bad
Polar Vortex = Fantastic!
With just 7.5” of total snow fall so far this winter season Grand Rapids is on track for one of its lowest seasonal snow fall totals in recorded history. This is the latest in the winter season were Grand Rapids has only gotten 7.5” of total snow fall.
Slim
We will will make up a lot of it next week with aric air blowing across the warm lakes especially next weekend back loaded Winter get ready for … HAPPY NEW YEAR INDY
Yet another very impressive record to fall in what is getting to be a historic stretch of weather. And just like way back in October, we’re still hearing the big snow is just 2 weeks away.
Overcast…routine. MI residents revel in “sun deprivation”.
Grand Rapids is one the cloudiest cities in the entire country. You can always move if you don’t like it. With that said, we had an extremely sunny 2020.
8 days ago was the last Sunny day in my area we have plenty of summer for sun …. HAPPY NEW YEAR INDY
It was partly sunny here most of the day yesterday, and the sunset last night was just gorgeous. A lot of people had pictures of the multicolored sunset posted on fb . With the high temp of 41 yesterday afternoon there now is a lot of grass showing once again.
Me= jealous. I think New Years Day was the last time the sun made an appearance here. We did, however, receive a dusting of snow yesterday morning and this morning, which melted quickly. The ground is still covered here. Approx. 2″ of snow remaining. Kinda weird how the difference between the high and low temps is only about 5 or 6 degrees the past couple of days.
And just like that, the sun has come out here. I need some shades.
It is out here too!!! YAY!!!
Wow, yesterday was +10 degrees above average! Today will be our 17th above average day out of the last 21 days.
Phenomenal warm stretch with barely any snow! Keep it going for at least another week.
8th day in a row with no sunshine temps in the low 30’s and just about 3 weeks with good snow pack on the ground does it get any better?? Now Let’s pump in some artic air next week so I can drop a line or two in the lakes build some ice up ahhhh Winter at its best in West Michigan.. HAPPY NEW YEAR INDY…..
Snow pack? LOL GR has recorded only 6 days the entire winter where there was more than 2″ of snow on the ground. There’s been zero snow pack this winter. It’s been another horrible winter for snowmobiling and ice fishing.
You know it INDY! We still have a solid 4 inches of snow up here. I will be snowshoeing later today! Incredible!