Huh! Spring snowshowers bring May flowers? Our daffodils and some of our tulips are already in full bloom, though hardy, I don’t think they are going to fair well with much snow weighing them down. Widespread rain and snow showers are expected today across the state. Western U.P. has blizzard and snow warnings for today for over a foot of snow!
U.S.A and Global Events for April 17th:
1922: Southern Illinois and Western Indiana saw two rounds of severe weather, including tornadoes. The first significant tornado occurred just before midnight on the 16 near Oakdale, Illinois. This tornado killed 4 and injured 22 others. Five additional tornadoes took place between midnight and 3 AM on the 17. During the mid-morning and early afternoon hours, two estimated F4 tornadoes caused devastation in Hedrick and near Orestes in Indiana. A postcard from one farm near Orestes was dropped near Mt. Cory, Ohio, 124 miles away.
1942: West Palm Beach, FL was soaked by 8.35 inches of rain in just two hours.
2002: The heat wave continued across the east as high pressure off the Carolina blocked a frontal boundary across the Plains. Records for the date included:
Newark, New Jersey: 97
NYC Central Park: 96
Hartford, Connecticut: 95
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 95
Reagan National Airport, DC: 95 (Tied monthly high)
Lynchburg, Virginia: 94
Atlantic City, New Jersey: 94
Norfolk, Virginia: 93
Providence, Rhode Island: 93
Boston, Massachusetts: 93
Portland, Maine: 80
Grand Rapids Forecast
4 17 grrLansing Forecast
4 17 lanIronwood Forecast
4 17 ironwoodForecast Discussion
- Lake-enhanced snow today A vertically stacked mature low over eastern Wisconsin is the dominant feature on the weather map this morning. Strong cold advection across Lake Michigan continues with radar returns filling in across Southwest Lower Michigan as of 3am. Rain is in the process of quickly changing to snow, and snow will be the dominant precipitation type for the day. Still lingering questions about accumulations, as CAMS and HREF suggest several inches of accumulation by this evening. Soil temperature 2 inches beneath the surface was 53 degrees this past evening in GR, so we continue to expect the warm ground will largely confine accumulations to grassy and elevated surfaces, but some slush buildup is possible even on roadways under the heaviest snow bands. The window for heaviest snow will be between now and about 11am, but snow showers will continue all day as -8C air at 850 mb reinforces across the entire area. With Lake Michigan water temperatures around +5C, the temperature difference will be enough to turn this into a truly lake-enhanced precip day across West Michigan. Impressive upward vertical motion (omega) and significant moisture to 20k feet should keep snow shower activity going all day long. - Milder temperatures and rain midweek The roller coaster continues as transient riding and southerly return flow bring warmer air back to Michigan for the midweek period. A warm front will surge northward and stall somewhere in central or northern Lower Michigan -- becoming the focus for a possibly heavy rain event in the Wednesday night timeframe. It`s too early to refine the details of location or rain amounts, but anytime warm fronts stall in the area the risk of excessive rain cannot be overlooked. At this point it would be our northern areas most likely to be in line for this rain band, so the Muskegon River basin would be the one to watch. - Another cold blast coming next weekend Rain continues through Thursday before another cold front plows through Lower Michigan late in the week. The GFS and Canadian models develop another wave along the front and bring another round of precip into Michigan before the deep cold air moves in here for the weekend, but the ECMWF is further east with this waving moving along the front such that it would miss Michigan completely. The bottom line is that we`re looking at either 2 or 3 rounds of rain during the 2nd half of the week before we drop back into colder-than-normal conditions for next weekend.
Off and on flurries today. Temps remained above freezing and the four days of 80s caused what did fall to to melt immediately. No snowfall reports from NWS GR. Plenty of reports from the Wisconsin side, though. Just took the trash out and I needed a coat. That wind is brisk!
What a storm! It has snowed all day! We picked up about 2 inches and but is has since mostly melted! It was awesome out hiking this morning in the woods! Plenty of snow was on the pine tree branches! It was fantastic! I love winter!
What a winter! Record breaking snow events and now the winter that won’t end! Incredible snow and cold today! I love it and keep it coming!
6 to 10 day outlook much below average
8 to 14 day outlook below average!!
No heat in sight thats fine with INDY..
And the 3 to 4 week is below normal, so like I said we are reverting right back to the persistent cool Spring! We are definite in a cool pattern! Wow just wow!
This cool pattern looks to hold on for a while
https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/610day/
in fact it could hold on to start May
https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/610day/
Slim
Thanks for the facts!
In parts of Michigan it is really winter like.
https://www.mtu.edu/webcams/walker/
Slim
Rock on Slim! Basically in most of MI it is like winter today! Facts are facts!
Step outside…cold, with nothing but more cold coming. This might be as good as it gets for 2023. Life…in the Southern Arctic.
Currently we made it up to 34 degrees out in my hood put the Winter coat on if you are headed outside today with it being mid April makes it feel even colder … INDY
With the wind, cold and snow it is not a nice day at all. 34 with snow and wind here at this time.
Slim
It’s looking more and more likely of an El Nino summer and fall. That should mean that our continual warm pattern for the past year continues!
Effects of El Nino in the summer are not that great.
” El Niño mainly influences the location of the jet stream over North America. The jet stream is weaker and farther north during the summer months, minimizing the effects of El Niño on weather in the United States.”
Slim
There is a chance that this summer could actually be cooler than average.
” During the summer of developing El Niño events, temperatures across the Midwest could be slightly cooler than normal”
Slim
Yeahhh the next 80 or better we see maybe in June I hope everyone enjoyed last weeks Summer like temperatures INDY
More great facts!!!!
It looks like parts of Michigan could hit the mid to upper 70’s again this week! This week is more usual to mid-April up and down in Michigan. Last week’s summer preview was just amazing!
Looks like we reached our high just after midnight. Should be in the 30s most of the day. It does look nice with the snow against the leaves/flowers
Terrie D wood tv 8 just said below normal tenps right into May how interesting….. Currently our windows are shut and the furnace is cranking again who would of thought?? INDY
Who knew? It will be a great winter day to take a hike in the woods! Fantastic!
Good morning, all. Just a few flakes falling, but none sticking. It’s pretty with the magnolias in full bloom.
Have a great day friends and you know the drill – make someone smile 😀
Here the the car tops, house roofs are white and there is some snow on the ground as well.
Slim
After our 6 days of April summer, it is now back to winter. There is a trace of snow here on the grass and more so on the roofs of houses and the tops of cars. It will be cold today and tomorrow then a warm up before turning cold again for next weekend. Once again it is 33 with light snow falling here at the current time.
Slim
Yesterday the official high of 68 was reached at 1AM and the low of 38 was reached at 11PM. Officially there was 0.12” of rain fall. There was just 3% of possible sunshine yesterday. The overnight low and current temperature here in MBY was 33 there is a trace of snow on the ground and the total precipitation here in MBY as of 6:45 was 0.33” For today the average H/L is 59/38 the record high of 84 was recorded in 1976 and the record low of 24 was set in 1983.
Slim
Good morning furnace ohhh how we missed you!! April such a transition month I swear …. Currently 32 degrees in my hood helloo February!! INDY
Yes it is cold out and the furnace is now running. The AC is still covered in its winter coat and will be for some time yet. Of course there will be some who will still have their shorts on today LOL
Slim
Im thinking some birds may turn and go south again Slim lol….INDY
Face the Facts! It is cold and snowing outside! The latest CPC says below normal temps at least through mid May! Major cold front this weekend! The overall persistent cool Spring pattern continues! Incredible!
After record highs today will end up being one of the coldest of any April 17.
Slim
We are getting pummeled with SNOW. Who knew? Let it snow, let it snow , let it snow! What a winter and still counting! Wow!!!!