This week has been great for finishing up outdoor projects before the weather takes a turn towards cold and wet conditions. Out west the second snowstorm of the season is ramping up through Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas. This system will move into our area by Friday bringing rain and the possibility of a few storms – I will have more on that in tomorrows post – I will say if you need to do anything outside, today and tomorrow will be the best time for it.
Weather History
October 6
1998: A squall line moved across Lower Michigan producing tornadoes, downbursts, and some flooding. A tornado struck Ferris State University in Big Rapids, injuring seven students. Another tornado moved from northern Isabella County into southern Clare County, damaging several homes. Total damage with the storms was more than a million dollars.
October 7
1965: A tornado destroyed a trailer and several outbuildings southeast of Clare in Isabella County.
2007: Temperatures reach record highs as very warm weather prevails across Lower Michigan from the 5th to the 8th. Grand Rapids sets three record highs in a row with temperatures in the upper 80s from the 6th to the 8th.
October 8
1871: The worst wildfires in the history of the Great Lakes region occur as strong south winds combine with tinder dry conditions. The fires leveled several areas of Michigan and Wisconsin, including the cities of Peshtigo, Holland, Manistee, and Port Huron. At least 1200 people died, about half of them in the Peshtigo, Wisconsin fire. That same night, the Great Chicago Fire erupted, destroying much of the city.
October 9
1989: Record cold temperatures put the freeze on southwest Lower Michigan for the second day in a row. Records include 23 degrees at Grand Rapids and Lansing and 24 degrees at Muskegon. The record cold is accompanied by scattered snow flurries.
October 10
1879: Southwest Lower Michigan is in the midst of a long spell of warm weather. Lansing rises into the 80s for seven out of the eight days from October 5th through the 12th. This includes the record high of 84 degrees on October 10th, which was preceded by a record 83 degrees on the 9th and followed by 85 degrees on the 11th.
1906: An early season snowstorm drops 4 to 8 inches of snow from Ludington to South Haven. Temperatures plunge into the teens the next morning, killing thousands of fruit trees, enough to alter the agricultural economy of southwest Lower Michigan.
October 11
1912: A late evening tornado hit Gratiot County. Five farms sustained damage along a five mile-long path. An elderly woman was killed and her son injured as their home was blown apart southwest of Alma.
October 12
2006: A record early season snowstorm brings up to eight inches of snow to southwest Lower Michigan. Tree damage and power outages were extensive around Hastings in Barry County as the wet, heavy snow clings to the tree branches, which still had leaves on them.
715pm getting dark out at thee YARDofBRICKS NE of GR loving it …INDY
64* degrees out at thee YARDofBRICKS NE of GR beautiful Fall day outside. …Its the best time of year ….INDY
Here is a fun fact for the summer of 2019. While Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Lansing all had a summer mean just above average. However Holland ended up just a little below average. Here is the 3 month mean for this summer and the average mean at each location and the departure from last summer (June to August) as reported by the NWS Grand Rapids 2019 mean 71.0, 30 year average 70.6 departure +0.4° Lansing 2019 mean 70.3°, 30 year average 69.6 departure +0.7° Muskegon 2019 mean 70.0. 30 year average 69.1 departure +0.9. And drum roll Holland 2019 mean 70.3. 30 year average 70.6 for a departure of -0.3
Slim
The overnight low at my house and GRR was 43° Yesterdays H/L at Grand Rapids was 69/44. So far this month the mean at GRR is 57.8 and that is a departure of +2.7° For today the record high is 84 set just last year and the record low is 23 set in 1989. The warmest minimum was also set last year at 66, and the record coldest maximum is 43 set in 1990.
Slim
After a warm summer and a warm September, 7 out of the first 9 days in October have been above average. If you like the cold, enjoy Saturday. Looks like we slowly trend back towards above average temps after that. Still no major cold in sight.
Major cold no below average Yes….It’s the best time of the year …INDY
Facts – 7 out of the last 9 months GR has seen below normal temps, what an incredible cool pattern indeed!
Bill had this in his blog last night but as of this AM there is still no working link to the site so for Rocky, Indy and anyone else who is interested in when the first snow fall at “thousands of locations” here is a link to that site.
https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/history-first-snow-season-thousands-us-stations
Slim
Note this site is for the record realest first snow fall not the average first snow fall
Slim
The average high is down to 63° and the average low is 43°. Autumn is upon us, and it’s hockey season!
Get ready of r a major cool down beginning this weekend and well into next week and maybe beyond! Incredible!
Yup Slim more rain moving in for the weekend this Fall has been a wet one that’s for sure all this rain will eventually change to snow making it even better got down to 45* degrees at my house a nother cool night when they sun drops now so do the temps you sure can feel it have to open our windows back up after Saturday they probably will be closed to April lol….Have a nice Wednesday…INDY
As we move into mid October, this year as in other recent years we still haven’t turned the heat on yet. Seems to get later and later as the years go by. We used to have it on by mid to late September, not so much anymore. Just spectacular weather this week with finally some dry air.
Heat? Don’t you run your ac all winter?
Lol…Have to say that was a good one Rocky …INDY
Rock on Indy and winter defiitnify will be rocking this year!
Snowblower is ready…INDY
No where near the money wasted driving hundreds of miles every week looking for snow.