April 19
1957: Less than a week after record low temperatures in the teens, high temperatures are pushing 80 degrees across Lower Michigan. Muskegon went from 19 degrees on the 15th to a high of 79 on this date, a rise of 60 degrees in four days.
April 20
1966: A tornado killed livestock and damaged a barn and garage in Morley in Mecosta County. Another tornado hit Peach Ridge in Kent County, damaging a steel tower.
April 21
1923: A tornado struck three miles west of Scottville in Mason County. It destroyed an unoccupied home and carried pieces of it over a mile.
1967: A tornado outbreak hits from Missouri to Michigan, killing 58 people. The worst of the damage was in northern Illinois, where dozens of people were killed in Belvidere and Oak Lawn. At least seven tornadoes hit Michigan, injuring more than 50 people and destroying dozens of homes. A tornado moved across the southern outskirts of Grand Rapids, doing heavy damage. Thirty-two people were injured and a total of 65 buildings were destroyed and another 60 heavily damaged. Another tornado injured eight people and killed 34 sheep as it moved from Westphalia to the south edge of Fowler in Clinton County.
2013: Heavy spring rains caused severe flooding. The Grand River crested at 21.85 feet in downtown Grand Rapids on the 22nd, with fish being photographed from the submerged windows of buildings along the river.
April 22
1976: A tornado damaged several homes northeast of Burlington in Calhoun County.
April 23
1968: A tornado struck Big Rapids in Mecosta County, injuring 11 people and doing half a million dollars in damage as it covered a path 10 miles long.
1986: Freezing weather prevails across Lower Michigan. Record cold temperatures for the date include the 19 degrees at Muskegon and 20 degrees at Grand Rapids which is also a record for coldest so late in the season.
April 24
1980: Only two days after setting record highs in the 80s, a record snowfall blankets Lower Michigan. Grand Rapids sets a record for the date with 2.4 inches of snow, after hitting 86 degrees on the 22nd.
April 25
1976: Winter returns after summer-like weather the week before. After four days in the 80s from the 15th to the 18th, temperatures are held in the 30s today and heavy wet snow falls. Lansing sets a record for the date with 4 inches of snow, as does Grand Rapids with 3 inches.
8-14 day out look below average temps that’s into May folks ….Keep the winter coat handy …INDY
I hear ya INDY. With how bad the weather has been during the lockdown, it’s no wonder there is so much depression out there.
Make the best of it!! I’m also seeing a warning trend mid May let’s hope lots of rules will be released the virus will be less in numbers people will be getting better and we can get back to normal that would be wonderful I’m preying May is a fabulous month for me but I’m already saddened by not having INDY 500 during May …INDY
Just got back from my daily walk. One word it is COLD out there and from time to time there is some wind blown sleet that in bouncing around. The temperature here is a cold (for late April) 38 here.
Slim
Also to add to the bad news, just saw on Wood that the fruit farmers are facing heavily damaged blossoms on their trees because of the freeze over night. Not a good time for Michigan at all. I think all of these issues is really going accelerate people leaving the state again.
https://www.bridgemi.com/quality-life/michigans-brain-drain-back-best-and-brightest-leave-state
Note to self: Winter runs from November-April…
Per the CPC, you can probably add May to that as well.
Currently 40* degrees out at thee YARDofBRICKS NE of GR so can’t wait to see how below the month of April rolls out..Love it lets have a cool May to …..INDY
Kent County is spiking in coronavirus lately. What is going on?!
Yeah, I think economically Michigan is going to be devastated. It’s not looking good for our state with already 1 million unemployed and that is a quarter of our work force. There are hundreds of companies hanging on by a thread right now, so that number will probably double or triple. So, it is doubtful a lot of people get those jobs back. The Governor had to lay-off a lot of state workers today as well because the tax base is shrinking exponentially at this point. With COVID and Unemployment in our state it’s going to be really, REALLY bad… Read more »
Yep Michigan is in for a world of hurt by being so reliant on tourism and manufacturing. It’s going to get really bad.
It is just not Michigan this is a world wide issue. As for how bad it is going to get? We still do not know.
Slim
The confirmed numbers are up in Kent, Ottawa and Muskegon counties. And to the north Alpena one of the last counties in lower Michigan to report a case went from just 1 case a week ago and are now up to 38.
Slim
Hey slim it’s because we’re doing far more testing in Kent County now. Notice that the deaths are still hovering at 25 in Kent County.
Good thing Detroit is slowing down now matter in fact all the major city’s are slowly slowing down now out east ….Deaths and cases …..INDY
It’s called the virus is spreading and is very contagious!
Yes and hopefully we are getting some herd immunity.
Well Rocky, you are getting both of your wishes, per her press conference today, Whitmer is extending the lockdown indefinitely and the CPC is showing the Cold is going to be around for the whole month of May.
I wouldn’t mind temps near normal temps for the month of May and I agree with the stay at home order to save lives! We need the spread of virus to be a lot slower before making any major changes to the order. I would expect a little loosening in May for outdoor work such as lawn service, landscaping, construction, etc.
Glad I have a big yard to burn a fire drink lots of Spites and have good cool nights through May being quarantine to my YARDofBRICKS …lol….INDY
I just wonder if companies that support the construction supply chains will be allowed to work in a safe capacity? Like if the manufacturing force will be able to work, while the front office staff still works from home??
Permanent Winter…
Ok with me! I much prefer skiing over golf!
Currently 31* degrees out at thee YARDofBRICKS NE of GR is it February ?? Lol…Have a good hump day ….INDY
Current conditions = moderate snow that is accumulating! Absolutely incredible! Winter just keeps rocking and rolling!
Yes we are so accelerating to the summer not ..Let it snow let it snow let snow ….INDY
I don’t see an above average temp happening around here until at least mid May! Incredible stretch!
Of the first 22 days of this April it has snowed at least a trace on 9 of them.
Slim
Thanks for the facts!
The cold and snow just keeps coming! I think it has snowed on more days than not this month! What an incredible below normal temp pattern we are in with no change in sight!
Yesterday’s high of 42 (reached just after midnight) was the 3rd coldest maximum of any April 21st in Grand Rapids recorded history. And the official low today of 24 ties the record low for today the 22nd of April. Here at my house I had a low of 22 and at this time there is light snow falling and the current temperature here is 30
Slim
Happy Earth Day.
https://www.wmta.org/west-michigan-digital-jigsaw-puzzles/ just saw this on Fox 17 news thought I would share.