Welcome to August
We are now entering the last month of meteorological summer when the days start to rapidly get shorter. The latest update from the CPC gives us 37% chance of below normal temps and 38% chance of below normal precipitation. This could mean we will have some ridge blocking going on bringing cooler less humid air into southwest Michigan. With a temp of 53° this morning we are already six degrees below the normal low. With daytime temps near normal morning low temps could bring down the mean temps for the month. Of course keep in mind we still have a 60% of near or above normal temps and precipitation.
We had 3.41 inches (official CoCoRaHS) of rain at my station for July which is slightly below normal. With multiple days in the 80s and 90s we ended up above normal temp wise.
Weather History
July 28
1959: A steady rain brought relief from drought conditions across West Michigan. Dry weather began in April, resulting in water rationing in Grand Rapids by the middle of July.
1976: A tornado injures five people northwest of Grand Rapids as it damages a warehouse.
1996: A weak, short-lived tornado damaged a pole barn near Evart on Osceola County.
July 29
1916: Temperatures soared to record highs as a ten day heat wave reached its peak. The 102 degrees at Lansing would tie the record for the hottest day ever there. Grand Rapids hit 103 degrees as part of a record string of four consecutive days of 100 degrees or higher. Even the Lake Michigan shore was baking, with Muskegon hitting 95 degrees.
July 30
1913: Offshore winds negate the cooling effect of Lake Michigan as Muskegon hits 99 degrees for its all-time record high temperature. Temperatures are actually a bit lower inland as Grand Rapids is 96 degrees and Lansing 92 degrees.
1960: Two squall lines preceding a cold front produced widespread severe weather with high winds and hail. Severe crop damage from hail occurred across much of Kent County.
2008: A tornado struck about three miles north of Clare at 3:17 a.m. A barn collapsed and the roof of a carport was blown into a stand of trees. Several other trees were either snapped off or uprooted.
July 31
1883: Very heavy rains during June and July cause the Grand River to rise to unusually high summer levels. Lumber companies use the high water to float logs to a log boom upstream of Grand Rapids. The logs broke loose and crashed into the Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee Railroad bridge creating a jam estimated at thirty-feet deep and seven-miles long. Sections of Grand Rapids were flooded by backwater. Eventually the bridge gave way and several bridges downstream were damaged by the cascading logs.
1917: A heat wave produced record highs in the upper 90s as July ended, with Grand Rapids hitting 98 degrees and Lansing 96 degrees. There were also record high minimum temperatures of 79 degrees at Grand Rapids and 74 at Lansing.
2005: Hot and dry weather during the month leads to drought conditions along the Lake Michigan coast. Agricultural production was hampered as the dry conditions continue into August.
August 1
1886: A tornado moves from northern Kalamazoo County into Barry County, damaging several farms in and near Hickory Corners.
1947: What turns out to be the hottest August on record starts off on a decidedly cool note with record lows of 48 degrees at Grand Rapids and 43 degrees at Muskegon.
1993: A severe storm in Kent County produced grapefruit-sized hail in Cannon Township, northeast of Grand Rapids.
2002: A tornado struck north of Tustin in Osceola County. The tornado left a damage path six miles long, with dozens of large trees down and some roof damage to homes. One house had its attached garage destroyed. A weaker tornado also hit near Grant in Newaygo County, toppling a tree.
August 2
1927: Morning low temperatures fall into the lower to mid 40s during one of the coolest Augusts on record. Daily record lows are set at Lansing with 40 degrees, Muskegon with 42 and Grand Rapids at 46.
1964: Lansing hits 100 degrees and Grand Rapids 98 as a brutal four day heat wave continues.
August 3
1894: After two record heat waves in July, record cool weather arrives. Lansing falls to 32 degrees for a rare summer freezing temperature.
1964: Muskegon sets an August record and ties their all-time record high temperature at 99 degrees. The temperature hits 100 degrees at Grand Rapids, a record for the date.
What a day and what a nice summer! Only one minor heat wave and tons of great weather! Who would have thought?
+1000 INDY
Good read on astronomical vs meteorological here:
https://www.thoughtco.com/the-astronomical-vs-meteorological-seasons-3443708
Most people that aren’t in weather fields use the astronomical seasons as that’s what’s been used for thousands of years.
76* Degrees out at thee YARDofBRICKS NE of GR another night in the 50’s coming up I wonder if we even hot 80* degrees today here??? Great night to get some night crawlers …INDY
2/3rds through Summer love it …The heat can stay away till next July lol… Beautiful outside ..INDY ..
In reality 41 days of Summer have passed with 53 days yet to go. Not even half way to Fall yet.
Right on Barry.. Some need to fact check there posts ..
It may snow in 53 days so then what ??lol…Enjoy the last full month of meteorology Summer!! Starting out on a the cool side love it….INDY
Meteorology Summer? Who knows, it may be like 2 years ago at the end of September and we get a week long heat wave in the mid to upper 90’s as well, then what?
Like the rock says warm weather fanatics …Carry on…INDY
Who knows what the weather will be 50 some days from now. Why even bother? And I am the farthest thing from a warm weather fanatic. You have no clue.
rock on Indy – keep those facts rolling!
I agree with Indy we are 2/3 of the way through summer. And yes it can still be warm well into September.
Slim
Well one could argue either side of that one. The average person has no idea what a meteorological season is, as evidenced by the strange looks you’ll get when referencing it in public. I’ve always been interested in astronomy, therefore astronomical seasons make more sense. But yes for record keeping, man made seasons are easier and make more sense in the weather field. But as I’ve mentioned before, we are not far from putting people on Mars, then what do we do there? Use the astronomical seasons? Or make man made seasons for record keeping. No right or wrong answer,… Read more »
Wow!
Slim The chief Bill Steffens agrees also …And if May and June was hot this year those 2 months would be considered Summer on here by some for sure…INDY..
The weather this week is perfect!
Have to wait for Slims stats, but that was a pretty rare July. All but a couple days reached 80 or better, and the few days that didn’t only missed by a degree or two at 79. Could tell from our electric bill I received yesterday which was 10% higher than last year for the same period, and that one was high!
Don’t forget the above average sunshine!
WOOD has 85-88 Friday through Tuesday. Looks like a pretty warm start to August.