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Sunny & Dry – Weather History

Guess what?  We have another sunny day in store for most of Michigan today as high pressure rules once again and our unusual pattern for winter gains a foothold for most of the rest of the week.  Even though I am a snow lover I guess I can’t complain as this makes it easy to take on the body in regards to shoveling snow and wrestling a big snow blower.  The birds, chipmunks and squirrels like it as more seem to appear daily at the feeders in my back yard.  We have a large pileated woodpecker which comes to our suet blocks in the morning and I counted six squirrels out in the yard yesterday, I put shelled corn out for them.  We also have countless finches, titmice, juncos, bluejays, cardinals and others who wait for me to come out in the morning to fill the feeders.  We also have a couple morning doves who decided to winter here.  All are welcome.


Weather History

November 29

1929: A month after the great stock market crash, it is the temperature that crashes in Lower Michigan. Record morning cold in the single digits is followed by afternoon highs only in the 10 to 15 degree range.

1960: A strong cold front moves through dropping temperatures dramatically and setting off lake effect snow showers. The temperature stays in the 20s during the day at Muskegon, after a high of 61 degrees the day before. The freighter Francisco Morazan runs aground off South Manitou Island in northern Lake Michigan during a heavy lake effect snow squall. All aboard are rescued by the Coast Guard in near white-out conditions.

1998: Balmy weather prevails during the final days of November, with lows in the 50s and highs in the 60s. Record highs today include the 65 degrees at Muskegon, Lansing and Grand Rapids.

November 30

1958: November ends on a frigid note with lows in the single numbers and highs only in the lower 20s. From 6 to 10 inches of lake effect snow piles up near Lake Michigan.

1976: One of the coldest Novembers on record ends with a blast of arctic air that drops low temperatures near zero and keeps highs only in the teens. Big Rapids falls to one degree below zero and Grand Haven measures three inches of lake effect snow.


December 1

2006: A snow and ice storm strikes southwest Lower Michigan. From 6 to 12 inches of snow falls from Muskegon to Ludington, while an ice storm causes power outages and treacherous travel conditions from Kalamazoo to Lansing.

December 2

1976: One of the coldest winters of the 20th century gets off to an early start, continuing the persistently cold pattern that began during the autumn. Temperatures plunge to record lows of 11 degrees below zero at Grand Rapids and 2 below zero at Muskegon.

1982: Low temperatures on this day are only in the mid 50s across southwest Lower Michigan, the warmest on record for December. The afternoon temperatures are in the mid and upper 60s. Muskegon hits 64 degrees, a record high for the month of December there.

December 3

1998: An extended spell of warm weather occurs in early December with highs in the 50s and 60s the first six days of the month. Record highs are set on this date with 64 degrees at Grand Rapids and 66 degrees at Lansing.

2002: Arctic air and fresh snow cover combine to drop the temperature to 18 below zero at Lansing, setting a record for early season cold.

December 4

1886: A record cold snap continues across Lower Michigan. Lansing falls to 13 degrees below zero, as the temperature hits zero or below on first five days of the month there.

1941: Three days before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Lower Michigan is basking in record warm early December weather. Record highs include the 60 degrees at Muskegon, 63 degrees at Grand Rapids and 64 degrees at Lansing.

2009: A narrow band of heavy snow across central Ottawa and Kent Counties drops over a foot of snow from Allendale to Comstock Park. Up to 15 inches falls in northern sections of Grand Rapids.

December 5

2001: This is one of the warmest December days on record in Lower Michigan. Grand Rapids and Lansing set record highs of 69 degrees. Holland and Flint both hit 70 degrees.


 

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Slim

I now see that according to the NWS office in Grand Rapids that GR recorded 52% of possible sunshine in November. As far as I can find the most recorded in any November is 56.6% in 1939
Slim

Barry in Zeeland
Barry in Zeeland

That’s an impressive amount of sun, almost double the normal amount! December is starting out the same. Bright out there today again!

Mookie
Mookie

Wow! Combined with other recent months, this has to be one of the sunniest years ever recorded.

Slim

That is a very good possibility. For the year 2020 % of possible sunshine by month at Grand Rapids. January 11% February 37% March 46% May 64% June 82% July 73% August 75% September 59% October 40% November 52% and now the first 2 days of December have been most clear. With December to go Grand Rapids has had 34.63″ of rain and melted snow fall.
Slim

Nathan (Forest Hills)
Nathan (Forest Hills)

Slim, I might be incorrect on this number, but I believe Ellen Baca mentioned 1929 had 77% sunshine in November the other day. Unless I misinterpreted the value… seems a little high.

Mr. Negative
Mr. Negative

2020 seems as though it was an unusually “sunny” year. Helping a neighbor with his deck, projects on my own property, working on tree damage with the in-laws…my memories are full of punishing sun, a longing for a cloud or two, and routine sunburn.

Mark (East Lansing)
Mark (East Lansing)

Well, it’s our turn. All four of us have tested positive for COVID-19. We have been diligent in our precautions. My wife was exposed to a lady at work that did not wear a mask (thanks a lot!). Fever, chills, aches, exhaustion. It’s like the flu, but worse. We have lost our senses of smell and taste, as well. A couple of us are immunocompromised, so we need to take this seriously. So far, we are managing just fine. I know this is not weather-related, but I just wanted to share our experience with you.

*SS*
*SS*

Mark… that just stinks!!!! Prayers for your whole family. Please keep us posted!!!!

Mr. Negative
Mr. Negative

Sorry to hear you’re going through this…fight it off, come out the far side stronger.

Slim

Take care. Please keep us updated the beset you can.
Slim

Barry in Zeeland
Barry in Zeeland

Oh man, that’s just terrible to hear! I feel incredibly lucky that the 4 of us all tested positive, but I was the only one with any symptoms and that was just a runny nose for 2 days. For sure keep us updated how you all are doing. We may have never met, but we’re still friends!

Mookie
Mookie

Oh no! I’ve been hearing of so many strange COVID experiences lately. I’ve had friends that barely had any symptoms and then suddenly felt like garbage months later. Others who still can’t taste or smell months later and still others with significant lung damage now. Hoping for the best!

Nathan (Forest Hills)
Nathan (Forest Hills)

Get well soon Mark. I begin going into work next week. I have a KN95 mask, glasses, and goggles… The issue is the other coworkers, hoping they also follow precautions. I’ll be thinking of you and your family.

Rocky (Rockford)
Rocky (Rockford)

My thoughts are with you and your family! Anyone not wearing a mask in public right now should be jailed! They are potentially killing fellow citizens! How ignorant!

Jack Edwards
Jack Edwards

Kiss my mASSk Rocky. I enjoy my Freedom to breath freely. You are ignorant when it comes to masks.
They do NOT work

Sandy (Hudsonville)
Sandy (Hudsonville)

Hope you all get over this virus soon!! Prayers for you and your family .

Mookie
Mookie

If you need a good laugh, here’s a little compilation of two posters predicting big snow for the last 6 weeks on here. Great pattern as we head into winter and tons of snow! October 23rd I’m thinking west Michigan may see it’s fist winter weather advisors of the season we need to keep a eye on it October 28th Get ready for the snow! October 31st Already seeing another big cold front on the horizon around the 10th just in time for opening of fire arms we deer hunters love it cold and snowy on that thought have a… Read more »

Slim

On that December 4th 2009 date I was one of the reports of that 15″ of snow fall. My 2 minuets of fame
Slim

Slim

With all of the sunshine we had in November the question was asked what % of sunshine did we have in November. Well it seems that the NWS is not going to provide us with that information this year but it looks like at Grand Rapids there were 6 clear days 12 partly cloudy days and 12 cloudy days. At Muskegon it was 7 clear 11 partly cloudy and 12 cloudy and at Lansing it was reported as 16 clear 3 partly cloudy and 11 cloudy. So yes it was a very sunny November around here. At this time it… Read more »

Mr. Negative
Mr. Negative

For what it’s worth, Ch 8 is stating…”52% sunshine through November, compared to 28% average.”

Rocky (Rockford)
Rocky (Rockford)

Enjoy the sun and 40’s because the pattern will be changing in 2 weeks or so! Get prepared now!

Bernie (Hamilton)
Bernie (Hamilton)

The sun is nice, and the 40s make it a bit easier to string the lights outside, but I would like snow! It is December, after all…

Mark (East Lansing)
Mark (East Lansing)

MV’s Bird Sanctuary = seems like a nice place to spend the winter. 🕊🦅🦆