This week is Severe Weather Awareness week in Michigan by proclamation of Governor Whitmer. While the typical tornado season is often thought of as the peak months of April through June, most months have featured significant tornado events at one time or another.
Last week we looked at various tornado events in Michigan, this week I will focus mainly on thunderstorms, a thunderstorm can cover a larger area with hail and wind damage and flooding events. Derecho events can take out power and knock down trees over a large path due to straight line winds. I have been through many of these events and have seen the damage they cause up close and personal.
Wednesday there will be a state wide tornado drill at 1pm (1300). This is voluntary however I would like to see all area businesses have a plan in place for the protection of their employees.
I set up a new page with checklists from the Michigan State police emergency management and Homeland security MIReady program.
Worldwide, there are an estimated 16 million thunderstorms each year, and at any given moment, there are roughly 2,000 thunderstorms in progress. There are about 100,000 thunderstorms each year in the U.S. alone. About 10% of these reach severe levels.
Many hazardous weather events are associated with thunderstorms. Under the right conditions, rainfall from thunderstorms causes flash flooding, killing more people each year than hurricanes, tornadoes or lightning. Lightning is responsible for many fires around the world each year, and causes fatalities. Hail up to the size of softballs damages cars and windows, and kills livestock caught out in the open. Strong (up to more than 120 mph) straight-line winds associated with thunderstorms knock down trees, power lines and mobile homes. Tornadoes (with winds up to about 300 mph) can destroy all but the best-built man-made structures.
This week it is my intention to provide information on storms and storm safety – stay tuned….
Get ready for another below normal temp day and then lows in the TEENS tonight! Incredible late March cold! Clearly we are still entrenched in a cool pattern! WOW!
At borgess hospital with my wife may not get a post out this morning
Oh no! I hope all is well.
Still waiting for her to be assigned a room . Been in the ER since 2am. She is having some breathing issues.
Good luck
I hope all is well.
Slim
We have both been under the weather with the flu – she was having a hard time breathing and I suspect she will spend the night a Borgess – probably won’t get a post out tomorrow either – I am sure you all can carry on for a while….
Mid to upper 50’s throughout Michigan today! What another great day outperforming the forecasts!
Below average is obviously our new normal. Embrace the permanant chill that is the Southern arctic. Can’t stand the idea of sweatshirts/heavy coats in August…oh well. As average temps continue to roll lower, we’ll have to be happy with watching old weather channel videos of storms that occur in “stormy” areas.
Sounds good!
We buried my wife’s last living grandparent yesterday. She was a remarkable lady. I will miss our long conversations. Perfect day for it too. Not a cloud in the sky.
B1G is looking good so far. Iowa has their hands full, but I hope the Buckeyes advance.
Prayers for you and your family … Michigan Michigan state playing in the final 4 would be epic…Hang in there Mark! INDY!
Thanks buddy
OSU is going to get clobbered today! Mark it down!
Looking forward to reading your posts this week on thunderstorms Michael! Much like our lack of any blizzards for years now, our lack of major thunderstorms makes us long over due for some good ones sooner or later.
It only has taken to March 24th sure feels nice outside 51* degrees out at thee YARDofBRICKS NE GR I can feel the warmth in the air with no wind finally feels like a Spring day! INDY!
You must have forgotten the day 2 weeks ago that it was over 60 everywhere, except of course GR where I think it was 59. We’ve had some awesome days this past week as well. Absolutely perfect for doing work outside without overheating.
With the wind and rain yes it was a great day..That’s right..INDY!
Didn’t really rain till the storms came through in the evening. It was a beautiful day, of course you were probably still shoveling all that snow that your area received.
Here is a map of the average number of thunderstorms per year. As you can see Michigan for the most part averages around 30 to 40. The long term average for here in Grand Rapids is 38 and at Grand Haven it is just 32. I spent a summer in Fort Myers Florida and there thunderstorms rule the day in the summer time. You can almost plan on one to three ever day. And I can tell you many of the storms there would make the hair on your arms stand up. Not the flash/rumble of thunder we get many… Read more »
Our last good severe storm in GR was way back in 2012 we don’t get severe storms here anymore lk Michigan kills them off …INDY!
Even more crazzy sunny and 50* today it’s only taking all the way to the end of March to get here and reading some of the past comments air conditioning on windows down with shorts and flip flops ect ect we would have been in the 60’s and 70’s already lol…How about bringing on the sweet 16 go Blue …Have a super Sunday warm day MV’s best INDY!!
If it don’t reach 60 this week it will be the 2nd March in a row were Grand Rapids did not officially reach 60. Note the last time it reached 60 was way back on October 14. So it been a long time.
Slim
The new normal!
Will GR even hit 60 degrees in March? Wood shows a high of 38 degrees next Sunday! Incredible!
The weather event for this week is 1. if and 2. just how the potential system plays out for next weekend. April fools???
Slim
What more snow Slim …How could that be ? Lol INDY!
Could be snow!
I guess temps in the 40’s is the new 60’s for it being a nice warm Spring day in Michigan ..Let’s get real on here … INDY!
Yesterday was another below normal temp day and the next three nights we will see well below normal temperature lows! We are still entrenched in a cool pattern! Who would have thought?