Sunny with Warmer Temperature 3/9

Thanks to Slim who did the posts the past two days, I appreciate it and the work you do here.

Make sure you set your clocks an hour ahead this morning.

We will have more sun and warmer temperatures in store for this week with some days nearing 60 and near 70 on Friday.   It will be dry most of the week until shower chances return Friday night.

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Weather History

1996: Record subzero cold grips Lower Michigan with Grand Rapids and Lansing falling to 7 below zero and Muskegon hitting 6 below.

1998: Arctic air plunges across the Great Lakes after one of the warmest winters on record. The above-normal water temperatures contribute to heavy lake-effect snow squalls that produce blizzard conditions. From 8 to 12 inches of snow is piled into deep drifts by winds gusting over 40 mph.

On March 9, 2002, A very strong cold front moved across southeast Michigan during the late afternoon hours of the 9th. A line of showers developed along the cold front. Very strong winds and brief heavy rain were associated with these showers. Behind the line of showers, powerful winds brought much colder air into the region. A low pressure system, which moved across the northern Great Lakes during the afternoon of the 9th, strengthened during the evening as it moved northeast of the region. This allowed the strong winds to continue into the early morning hours of the 10th. In addition to the winds, temperatures dropped from readings in the 50s during the early afternoon of the 9th, to the 20s by late evening. Wind gusts measured between 60 and 70 MPH affected southeast Michigan during the passage of the cold front. Winds as high as 50 to 60 MPH continued into the night.

Hundreds of trees, power lines and utility poles were blown down across southeast Michigan. Falling trees caused damage to several homes throughout the region. High winds also tore roofing material and siding off of many homes and businesses including Bentley High School in Burton and Ida Elementary in Monroe. A few cars were also struck by falling trees and branches. An estimated 180,000 homes and businesses across southeast Michigan lost power due to many power lines being blown down.

Also on March 9, 1987, the greatest 24 hour temperature drop occurred at Detroit. The temperature fell from 74 degrees on 3/8/87 at 3 pm in Detroit, to 23 degrees (a 51-degree drop) on 3/9/87 at 1 pm.

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Forecast Discussion

- Dry With Above Normal Temperatures Through Friday

A longer period of dry conditions with springlike temperatures is
expected through Friday as broad mid-level ridging sets up across
the eastern CONUS. Warm air advection sends 850mb temps up to near
10C by Monday leading to highs near sixty. Little in the way of any
atmospheric moisture will lead to plenty of sunshine as well.

A brief cooldown is expected on Tuesday as a shortwave drives a
cold front through the area. Frontal passage will be dry as there
will still be no atmospheric moisture to support precipitation
development. Highs will range from near forty along the US10
corridor (earlier frontal passage) to the lower fifties across the
Lansing and Jackson areas where the front arrives during the
afternoon.

The cooldown is short-lived as highs near sixty are likely Thursday
and 70s are possible for at least some of the area Friday. Low rain
chances exist in this timeframe as a warm front crosses the area,
but given poor moisture quality will keep chances below 20 percent.

- Dynamic Storm System This Weekend

The aforementioned late week warmup will be driven by the
development of strong southerly flow ahead of a deep upper-level
trough and surface low that will move from the Central Plains into
the Upper Midwest. Deep Gulf moisture will be drawn north ahead of
the system bringing rain back into the forecast for Saturday as well
as a chance of thunder. It may also be breezy given the strong
gradient associated with the surface low and strong low-level jet
aloft.