Thanks to Barry for providing the graphic for the comet Neowise in yesterday’s post. It will be visible through July 23rd before you need binoculars or a telescope. After that, it won’t be visible again for 6800 years.
I hope you enjoy our weather lady Abby in the Weather Center graphic. If she can wear a mask we can also while in public.
Today our temps will rise to near 90° with dewpoints in the mid-60s. Rain with a possible storm won’t come in until after 8 pm for SW Michigan. Rainfall totals could be in the half to 3/4 inch range. Below is the updated SPC outlook for today.
Weather History
July 12
1966: A tornado destroyed a barn at Coopersville in Ottawa County.
1978: Cool weather prevails with low temperatures in the 40s. Muskegon falls to 45 degrees, for a record low for the date.
July 13
1912: A tornado strikes downtown Grand Rapids at 4:10 AM. Several buildings are damaged and nine people are injured.
1936: The Dust Bowl summer of 1936 produces the hottest day on record across the state of Michigan. Grand Rapids hits 108 degrees, its highest temperature ever, with Mio, Michigan setting the state record of 112 degrees. At Grand Rapids, six out of the seven days from July 8th to July 14th were above 100 degrees.
1964: Clouds, rain and a cool northeast wind holds the high temperatures in the upper 50s to mid 60s across West Michigan. The high of 59 degrees at Grand Rapids is only the second time in over a hundred years of record that the temperature did not reach 60 degrees on a July day.
July 14
1950: Cold air filters into Michigan, setting records lows of 45 degrees at Grand Rapids and 41 degrees at Muskegon.
1974: Several tornadoes struck Lower Michigan during the afternoon, causing some structural damage but no injuries. In Mecosta County, a house and some farm buildings were damaged about four miles east of Sylvester. Apartment buildings were damaged near Plymouth, in Wayne County. Seven houses were destroyed and 50 damaged near Davison in Genesee County.
1995: An intense three day heat wave claims hundreds of lives across the Midwest, mostly elderly people in the greater Chicago area. The low temperature of 81 degrees at Grand Rapids on this day is the warmest low temperature ever recorded there. Temperatures in the upper 90s in the afternoon combined with high humidity to produce heat index readings near 120 degrees, some of the highest ever recorded.
July 15
1863: It was a frosty morning with temperatures falling to the 30s across much of Michigan. The low of 31 degrees is the coldest ever recorded in July at Lansing by a full five degrees.
1961: A heavy downpour hits Grand Rapids, with 0.41 inches of rain falling in 15 minutes.
1985: A tornado touched down in the northeast section of Lansing and damaged 18 buildings as it moved to three miles north of Webberville in Ingham County.
1987: It was the coolest July day on record at Grand Rapids, with a high of only 58 degrees. Clouds and rain kept temperatures in the upper 50s and lower 60s during the day after morning lows in the mid 40s.
July 16
1945: The second morning of record cool weather in five days produces low temperatures of 42 degrees at Grand Rapids and Muskegon.
1986: A plane carrying executives from Holland to Muskegon crashed while landing in heavy fog. The pilot had descended below approach minimums and the plane struck two trees about two miles short of the runway. Three people were killed, including the pilot. Three others were injured.
July 17
2006: A widespread severe weather outbreak struck West Michigan. Dozens of trees were downed by winds gusting between 60 and 70 mph. A camper was injured by a falling tree at a campground in Dorr, Allegan County. Two inch diameter hail fell at Marne in Ottawa County.
2009: The high of 67 degrees at Grand Rapids is a record cool high temperature for the date, and contributes to July, 2009 becoming the coolest July on record. The highest temperature for the entire month is only 84 degrees, the lowest monthly maximum temperature for any July on record.
1994: A small, short-lived tornado was observed lifting small debris at the Clare County airport north of Harrison.
July 18
1952: Thunderstorms with heavy downpours resulted in flooding of basements and some streets across West Michigan.
MV – my husband & I like your drawing at the top of the
page the lady with the mask. 🙂
We have been having light rain since about maybe 9 PM. It is
muggy out just like it has been today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFn4-kQPjzk&feature=youtu.be
They will be talking with NASA scientists about the Neowise come at 3pm today.
So far there have been more days with highs of 90 or better then usual. Let’s see how this July stands as to the record number of says of 90 or better around the state of Michigan. Here in West Michigan so far Grand Rapids has had 8 days of 90 or better the record for July is 18 last set in 2012 (also in 1921 and 1901) At Muskegon so far 8 the record is 13 set in 1955. At Kalamazoo so far 9 the record is 25 set in 1921. At Lansing so far 7 the record is… Read more »
Here is the latest SPC update:
Currently there is a area of rain/storms heading to the east/northeast that may clip far SW Michigan not sure how far north they will go.
Slim
It is currently cloudy warm and somewhat humid 80 here.
Slim
I took a few pix last night of the comet. I am going to try a different camera next time out.
It would be nice to get some rain in the next 24 hours, but Bill Marino at NWS GR is not too confident that it will happen.
Our local met showed 90 or higher 11 of the next 12 days. It’s summertime, people! It doesn’t last for long so enjoy it while you can.