Today will be much the same as yesterday with cloudy skies and scattered showers with a few snowflakes mixed in, especially tonight. Tomorrow will see much the same with clearing sometime Friday afternoon. Wisconsin has been on the colder side of the meandering low pressure system receiving 8 to 12 inches of snow.
NWS Forecast
Weather History
1956: Eighteen people are killed and over 300 injured as four powerful tornadoes strike western Lower Michigan. Hudsonville and the northwest suburbs of Grand Rapids are the hardest hit areas with 17 fatalities as homes and businesses were completely swept away by an F5 tornado.
1974: The worst tornado outbreak in United States history strikes from Illinois to Alabama, with 148 tornadoes killing over 300 people. In Michigan, a tornado kills two people as it tracks across Hillsdale and Jackson Counties.
On April 3, 1974, an F2 at 7:30 PM and an F3 at 8:56 PM moved through Monroe County. These tornadoes were part of the Super Outbreak that caused over 300 deaths, 5500 injuries, and $600 million in damage in 13 states and Ontario, Canada. The Super Outbreak was the worst tornado outbreak in U.S. history.
1964: KAUZ in Wichita Falls, Texas broadcast the first live television pictures of an F5 tornado moving through the city. Seven people were killed, 111 injured and 225 homes were destroyed during the twisters 5 to a 6-mile path. Extensive damage was done at Sheppard Air Force Base where three tanker planes, a hanger, the power plant, and the chapel were all destroyed. Damage estimates exceeded $15 million. Click HERE to see the broadcast from KAUZ.
1974: A “Super-Outbreak” of tornadoes ravaged the Midwest and the eastern U.S. Severe weather erupted early in the afternoon and continued through the next day. Severe thunderstorms spawned 148 tornadoes from Alabama to Michigan, most of which occurred between 1 PM (CST) on the 3rd and 1 AM on the 4th. The tornadoes killed 315 persons, injured 5300 others, and caused 600 million dollars damage. Alabama, Kentucky, and Ohio were especially hard hit in the tornado outbreak. One tornado destroyed half of the town of Xenia, Ohio killing 34 persons. Another tornado, near the city of Stamping Ground, Kentucky produced a path of destruction a record five miles in width. A tornado raced through Guin, Alabama at a speed of 75 mph. Two powerful tornadoes roared across northern Alabama during the early evening hours, killing fifty persons and injuring 500 others. Some rescue vehicles responding to the first tornado were struck by the second.
1987: An extensive, slow-moving low-pressure system produced very heavy snows over the Appalachian Region lasting through April 5th. 60 inches fell at Newfound Gap in western North Carolina, the most substantial single storm snowfall in the state’s history. Up to 36 inches was reported in southeastern Kentucky. The total of 25 inches at Charleston, WV easily surpassed its previous record for the entire month of April of 5.9 inches. The 20.6-inch total at Akron, OH established an all-time record for that location. Snow closed Interstate 40 for the first time since it was opened in 1967. Lightning and thunder accompanied the snow in some areas while a trace fell as far south as Mobile. The snow was the first snow ever reported in April in Mobile since records began in 1872. The storm became known unofficially as the “Dogwood Snowstorm” as many trees had fully bloomed.
More information on the 1974 super outbreak can be found here
Forecast Discussion
- Light rain and light snow showers through Thursday An upper level low over our region will result in extensive cloud cover along with scattered light rain showers today through tonight. Thermal profiles will cool sufficiently enough for pcpn to become mixed with or change over to light snow showers mainly for tonight into Thursday. However very little to no snow accumulation is expected along with minor impacts at best. The relatively best chance for a few tenths of an inch of snow will come tonight into Thursday over relatively higher terrain of our far nne fcst area. Northerly winds will ramp up a bit Thursday afternoon on the back side of the departing sfc low pressure system. - Mainly dry with moderating temperatures Friday through Sunday Precipitation with the upper low that is overhead now looks to come to an end Thursday night into Friday morning. The center of the upper low will be well east of the area by this time and the GFS and ECWMF are showing very little in the way of precipitation. Something to watch is a shortwave in both models that will be pivoting south through the area Thursday night and Friday. It may come through dry as moisture depth is rather shallow. Conditions improve for the weekend as a ridge of high pressure moves through the region both at the surface and aloft. Moisture is limited and we look to be dry. A slow moderation in 850mb temperatures occurs during this time frame from -6C on Friday to +1C on Sunday. This will result in daytime highs rising from the 40s on Friday to the 50s on Sunday. Temperatures will be warming back towards normal after several cool days. - Still some model uncertainty for early next week Model uncertainty still exists somewhat in the Monday and Tuesday time frame which has quite a bit of interest given Monday`s eclipse. Tonight`s model runs are converging on the upper low pivoting a bit more into the upper midwest and northern plains off to our west vs driving right into the Great Lakes. We look to get a warm frontal feature move into our area later Sunday and into Sunday night. We have small pops in the forecast for rain showers from Sunday evening into Monday morning on the order of 20-50 percent. A plains low develops towards mid next week with precipitation possibilities increasing during that time frame. Temperatures warm into the 60s Monday and Tuesday which will be above normal. As for the eclipse itself prospects do not look to be a washout at this point by any means. ECMWF cloud cover progs have been showing a steady trend towards less and less cloud cover in the path or totality in Indiana. Central Indiana cloud cover in the ECWMF Ens is now less than 30 percent Monday afternoon. The GFS has more in the way of cloud cover around 60 percent. The trends have been in the right direction though (less clouds). For many driving south this will be a game time decision the night before or the morning of and right now our thoughts would be to continue to monitor day by day. The current trend is optimistic.
Another great Spring day! Cold, wind, showers and winter temp wind chills! Very cold start to April! Either bring on a snowstorm or sun and temps in the 60’s!
I just had a mix of rain/sleet/freezing rain fall in my area. Just a gross day today.
Starting Saturday: 55-65 everyday and lots of sun!
Looks outstanding!!
I always say we have some of the best weather in the country mid April to mid October.
You’re right about that Mookie!
If you have time, check out the KAUZ broadcast link above. It’s pretty cool. Things have changed a lot in the past 60 years, no doubt.
Things were a lot different back then for sure.
Slim
The overnight low and current temperature here in MBY is 35 with a light mist falling. I had a total of 0.34” of rainfall yesterday and overnight.
Slim
The official H/L yesterday was 47/37 there was 0.32” of rainfall. The highest reported wind gust was 35 MPH out of the SW there was no sunshine. For today the average H/L is 52/33 the record high of 80 was set in 1999 the record low of 10 was set in 1965 the most rainfall of 1.16” fell in 2007. The most snowfall of 6.0” fell in 1926 the most on the ground was 10” in 1975. Last year the H/L was 58/44 and there was 0.37” of rain.
Slim
I keep looking at that forecast for Ishpeming in the UP. That is more than a monster of a storm there, that is like a Godzilla storm!! I mean 3 feet of snow in April is pretty shocking!
https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=46.4885&lon=-87.6651
Not sure how much will acclimate but with the temperatures in the low 30’s that snow should be on the wet and heavy side. I think Rocky should take the day off from work and take a trip up there and help people clear there driveways.
Slim
Haha!!! I agree Slim!
If I was as obsessively infatuated with snow as Rocky is, I would have taken a PTO day and drove my way up to Ishpeming!
I wish I was there! Too busy this week to make the trip! It looks crazy!