We had 1.05 inches of rain yesterday in Otsego which brings us to 2.07 inches for this first week of May. The high temp was 52° and the low 44°. We have a better outlook for today with plenty of sunshine and temps in the low to mid-60s.
Weather History for SW Michigan
May 1
1966: A May Day snowstorm drops 4 inches of snow at Lansing.
May 2
1929: A snowstorm puts down a slushy coating of 2 to 3 inches of snow across southwest Lower Michigan.
1930: Grand Rapids was struck by a tornado that moved through the factory district in the south part of the city. Four people were injured as many buildings were unroofed. Damage totaled over a million dollars.
May 3
1954: Snow falls on three straight days from the 3rd to the 5th across Lower Michigan. Record snowfall on this date includes the 1.3 inches at Grand Rapids.
1959: Muskegon sets a record high of 82 degrees during a string of five straight days over 80 degrees.
May 4
1928: A tornado destroyed several cottages along Bostwick Lake, about ten miles northeast of Grand Rapids.
May 5
1895: An early-season heatwave peaks with record highs of 96 degrees at Grand Rapids and 92 at Lansing. The 96 degrees at Grand Rapids is a record for so early in the season.
May 6
1902: A tornado injures two people and destroys several barns east of Maple Rapids in Clinton County. Another tornado destroys several barns near Tekonsha in Calhoun County.
May 7
1947: Cold and snow prevail across Lower Michigan with lows in the upper 20s and highs only in the upper 30s to lower 40s.
1974: Temperatures tumble as cold high pressure builds into Lower Michigan. Record lows on this date include 22 degrees at Lansing, 25 at Grand Rapids, and 27 at Muskegon.
Weather History for SE Michigan
May 1
On May 1, 1983, the county of Monroe was hit by an F1 tornado that tore through the county at 11:55 PM. It caused about $3,000 in property damage.
May 2
On May 2, 2015, this day in geologic history featured a 4.2M earthquake that was felt in several states. The epicenter was 5 miles south of the town of Galesburg in Southwest Lower Michigan. It was the 2nd strongest earthquake on record in Michigan behind a 4.6M near Kalamazoo in 1947.
On May 2, 1983, an F2 tornado hit Lenawee county between 1:35 a.m. and 1:40 a.m. Later that same morning, an F3 tornado hit Macomb County at 10:05 a.m. causing $25 million in property damage.
May 3
On May 3, 2012, a severe thunderstorm outbreak resulted in numerous reports of wind damage, including a small plane being flipped over at Bishop International Airport in Flint. Heavy rain and thunderstorms lasted well into the evening hours and dropped 2.39″ of rain on the city, making in the highest daily rainfall total that Flint had ever recorded in the month of May…until the next morning when continuing heavy rains dumped another 3.23″.
On May 3, 1951, Livingston County was hit by an F2 tornado at 2:35 PM.
May 4
On May 4, 2018, a strong cold front led to a line of severe thunderstorms over southern Lower Michigan as well as strong winds not associated with thunderstorms that resulted in power outages for 300,000 customers across Southeast Michigan. Bad Axe recorded a gust of 68 mph while the Tri-Cities Airport (MBS) and Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) recorded gusts of 63 and 61 mph, respectively.
On May 4, 2012, 3.23″ of rain fell in the predawn hours, making it the wettest day that Flint has ever recorded in May. Unfortunately for many Flint residents, the previous record was set only hours earlier on the night of May 3rd. The storm total rainfall of 5.62″ inundated the Flint area. The severe flooding that ensued prompted firefighters to use to boats to help residents from their homes and resulted in localized evacuations and a shutdown of a stretch of Interstate 75, which was reported to be submerged by 4 feet of floodwater. The heavy rain also caused the Swartz River in Flint to rise to a record stage of 9.76 feet.
May 5
On May 5, 2003, an F1 tornado hit outside of Leonard in Oakland County. There were also many reports of hail ranging from 0.75 inches to 0.88 inches throughout the cities of Linden, Flint, Fenton, Grand Blanc, Thetford Center, Burton, and Davison. Some of these places also reported wind from 70 to 75 mph.
May 6
On May 6, 1947, in Detroit, the Rouge River crested to a height of 23 feet (with flood stage being 15 feet).
May 7
On May 7, 1974, a two-day span of record lows occurred in Detroit on the 6th with 31 degrees and on the 7th with 27 degrees.
Forecast Discussion
...Becoming sunny today, rain Friday... The low that moved through yesterday is now over Lake Erie. High pressure is nosing into the region from the north which will continue to dry out the atmosphere. IR loop shows clearing over northern Lower and this clearing will eventually make it`s way south across the cwa this afternoon. The clear skies tonight will send temperatures down into the mid to upper 30s tonight and some areas of frost are possible, especialy north of M-46. The ridging will be short lived as another low is headed toward Lower Michigan late Thursday night and Friday. Yesterday`s rain totaled around an inch along I-94 and three quarters of an inch near I-96. Friday`s low will dump a quarter to half inch of rain in these same locations...the southern cwa. Rivers are already running a bit elevated and this additional rainfall will keep them running high. That said, there probably won`t be enough rainfall to cause them to flood. The ECMWF continues to be farther north and consequently produces more rainfall than the farther south GFS. A middle of the road approach may be best. The low should scoot by just to the south which should take thunderstorms out of the picture. ...Warmer over the weekend and into next week... A high amplitude upper ridge is progd to develop over the Great Lakes late in the weekend and extend into next week. Southwest flow at the surface and aloft will draw warmer air north across the region. Highs will climb into the lower 60s Friday and Saturday and mid to upper 60s Sunday. Temperatures will be rather warm next week as highs on Monday in the mid to upper 70s will be surpassed on Tuesday with highs in the mid 80s. Chances for rain aren`t zero during this period, but they aren`t high either as the ridge will keep things focused farther west.
What a perfect Spring day today!! Sounds like a few more are coming our way too.
It was a spectacular Spring day today! I was outside for hours! Fantastic!
The graphics show 80s and even a 90 in Michigan.
https://www.mlive.com/weather/2022/05/long-80-degree-spell-looking-likely-for-michigan.html
May is the best month during Spring for the best weather it takes awhile to get here but I enjoy it love the month of May real Spring warmth its about time ahhhh sun tan time …InDY
I see on some of the traffic cams that GR is getting some sunshine. Temperatures reflect that. It’s 47 and thick in the clouds at my place while it’s a few degrees warmer in GR.
Looks like we are on the uphill climb in temps going forward. While we have had a lot of rain there really hasn’t been a lot of thunderstorms at least at my house. The trees are really going to pop with leaves once we get that sunshine and warm temps so the woods is about to get thicker over the next few weeks.
Sunny with temps at least in the low 60’s! We are getting there! This could actually be one of the few good good golf afternoons over the last few weeks! Incredible!
Very wonderful day out today. Also next week is looking great, my weather app has 77-86 from Monday-Friday. Allergies will be in full swing next week! (even today possibly?)
Hey Nathan how was your trip to Austin? My sister works as a travel nurse right now so she will be moving to Austin potentially in I think maybe July so it will just be another place for me to go to visit. I told her be ready for some really hot summers but she’s already getting daily heat in Florida.
I enjoyed it a lot. There is actually a pretty good chance I’ll be moving to Austin later this year, I have family there and visited several times.
Their summers are definitely hot (I think upper 90s next week, and it will stay that way through most of September). But winters are surprisingly cool in the 50s-70s, sometimes in the 30s-40s.
But yea I’d recommend visiting. Things to do: Barston Springs, Ziker Park, University of Texas, The Domain (second downtown), Cidercade, Mt Bonnell.
Good to know. I hope she does go because it’s just another place for me to go and see. Never been to Texas before but I know it’s a growing state. Interesting you saying you might move later this year. I may be moving down near Birmingham, Alabama.
That is a fun place too Kyle!
Hey Nathan, in about 4 years we’re planning on moving to the Austin area as well. Just gotta get my wife thru nursing school and then we’ll be off to Texas! Most of my wife’s family lives in Texas in the Austin/San Antonio area. We’re tired of Michigan winters and much prefer the climate of Texas!
Yes I have been to Birmingham so many times. I was there I think 3 times last year so far once this year and am going back again sometime this year. Alabama’s weather to me is perfect, but that’s also because I love thunderstorms. I Storm chase so Alabama is perfect right in the heart of Dixie Alley. I chased a tornado on the ground there last year on St. Patrick’s Day. They do get nice cool and sometimes cold days in the winter, but nothing near as bad here and trees and flowers begin to bloom in about Mid March. I was just down there around April 22nd and the trees were almost in full leaves. Looked and felt like summer in the Mid-80s
MAY the 4th be with you MV’s best! Love May Finnaly some real Spring weather…InDY
The official H/L at Grand Rapids yesterday was 52/44. There was 0.68″ of rain fall that brings the monthly total to 0.85″ and for the year the total is now at 15.17″ that is 3.75″ above average for this period in the year. Last year as of May 3rd Grand Rapids only had 6.70″. The first 4 month of 2022 have been very cloudy, cool and wet. At Grand Rapids the first 4 months have been 2.0° colder than the 30 year average and -2.65° colder than the new 15 year average. The official overnight low at GRR was 42 and the overnight low here at my house was 41. At the current time it is sunny and 48 here at my house. It will soon be time to enjoy some much warmer temperature as we head into next week.
Slim
Wow mid 80’s and blowtorch in the forecast and it’s only the first week of May! I love it!
80′ this week when?? Not Friday more rain and 50’s again….InDY
Yes, After this long wet cold period some nice and warm weather will be more than welcomed. If it makes it into the low 80’s next Tuesday it will be well above average but by no means unheard of. It has been 80 or better 16 times on May 10 and the record high is 89. In fact the coolest record high next week is 86.
Slim
Yes mid 80’s if it comes true is quite unusual for early May!
Not this week sorry ….InDY
Finally some May sun watch the temperature climb now real warmth is here ..Im thinking Saturday I will put some seed down and get the sprinkler out here comes Summer woo woo ohh and the sprites to!! InDY
We certainly needs several days of no rain at this point. It is soggy.
Yes… We have the wetlands in our yard. Lol!!!