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Weather History Wednesday

It appears we may tap into some Canadian air next week rather than the cloudy blah pattern we have been stuck in this month.  There is a 36% chance of below-normal temps coming next week which in reality isn’t high or something to get overly excited about.  The entire month of February there is a 42% chance of below normal temps.  We are nearing the turning point where temps slowly rise in anticipation of spring.  Normal temps are around freezing for daytime highs and the mid to upper teens at night which we haven’t seen a lot of as of late.  I guess we will see how this will play out as we tap into the air of the Canadian northwest.  Will this be a blip or reality – stay tuned…


Weather History

January 26

1967: Temperatures in the 20s are some 40 degrees colder than the day before, and heavy snow begins falling, piling up a foot or more along with increasing winds.

1978: A storm known as the Cleveland Superbomb moves north from the Gulf of Mexico and deepens explosively, becoming one of the worst blizzards in Midwest history. From one to two feet of snow falls across southern Lower Michigan, whipped into huge drifts by strong gusty winds. Several new records were set including a new record low sea-level barometric pressure of 28.68, observed at 6:00 AM. At least 9 deaths were attributed to the blizzard, most roads were impassable, roofs collapsed under the weight of the snow and the airport in Grand Rapids was closed from late on the 25th until the 27th. Governor Milliken declared a state of emergency and requested additional federal aid for snow removal.

January 27

1967: Chicago’s greatest snowstorm on record also extends into Lower Michigan, where Battle Creek records 28.6 inches of snow. The storm total at Lansing is 23 inches and 18 inches at Grand Rapids.

1994: A snow and ice storm brings travel to a halt across Lower Michigan. Freezing rain causes widespread power outages and results in 5 million dollars damage.

January 28

1977: Buffalo, New York is hit with the worst blizzard in its history. Meanwhile, lake effect snow squalls also pummel areas in western Lower Michigan with more than a foot of fresh snow being piled into huge drifts by strong winds.

January 29

1909: A snowstorm dumps from 6 to 10 inches of snow across southern Lower Michigan.

1966: A week-long cold snap reaches its bottom as temperatures fall to record lows of 16 below zero at Grand Rapids and 12 below at Muskegon.

January 30

1951: A huge arctic high-pressure center moves south from Canada all the way to the Gulf of Mexico and brings snow to Florida. Temperatures fall to record lows in Lower Michigan. Grand Rapids sets their all-time record January low of 22 degrees below zero. Baldwin, Michigan plunges to 37 below zero.

2008: Rain changes to snow as an arctic cold front brings a flash freeze to lower Michigan during the night of the 29th, leaving a sheet of ice on the roads. Temperatures fall from the upper 40s to the single numbers, with occasional blinding white-out conditions in falling and blowing snow. There were numerous traffic accidents and some roads were closed for a time. School and event cancellations were widespread, and there were also sporadic power outages.

2019: Arctic air combined with strong winds gusting over 30 mph to bring dangerously cold wind chill temperatures of 20 to 40 below zero. Actual air temperatures remained below zero throughout the entire day across much of Lower Michigan with a 2 pm temperature of 12 below zero at Kalamazoo.

January 31

1914: A snowstorm drops from 6 to 14 inches of snow across southern Lower Michigan.

1977: One of the coldest months on record comes to a close with yet more arctic air and lake effect snow. High temperatures are only in the teens during the last week of the month with 2 to 4 feet of snow piled up along the Lake Michigan snow belts.

February 1

1918: February opens on a frigid note during one of the most severe winters in history across the central and eastern United States. Muskegon tumbles to a record cold 22 degrees below zero and Lansing also sets a record with 16 below.


This is the NWS look at the sun (or lack thereof) stats for Grand Rapids


 

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Andy W
Andy W

Proof of how nonexistent this winter has been!! Keep it ROCKIN!!

https://mobile.twitter.com/BeauDodson/status/1222659065169489922/photo/1

I’ll repost this tomorrow too!

Andy W
Andy W

Love it!!! No real arctic air over the next 10 days! Love these short winters!

https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/7f39432f98eef2d300f773cf914253d5f248e7131cb69cb63b087ebda662f574

Rocky (Rockford)
Rocky (Rockford)
Wild Bill
Wild Bill

The national weather must have it in a ringer, I can’t see an update yet.. they must not know what’s gonna happen lol!!!

Nathan (Forest Hills)
Nathan (Forest Hills)

The cloudiness has not bothered me yet for the some reason this year. I think that because it has been so warm I have been outside more often than usual. That is the good news about this winter so far!

Slim

And yes at this time it is cloudy and 33 here at my house.
Slim

Slim

With just 3 day to go, January 2020 now has a mean tempera at Grand Rapids of 31.3° That is +6.9 and at this time this is the 6th warmest January of record. At Muskegon they have a mean of 32.0 that is +6.5 and is now the 5 warmest January of record there. And at Lansing the mean in 30.2 that is + 6.7 and Lansing is now at the 10th warmest January of record. So while there has been little snow the temperatures are the true big story this January and for this winter season. So while not… Read more »

INDY
INDY

Bring on a below February March April and May thats just fine with INDY …INDY

Andy W
Andy W

Finally cracked the code to Rocky’s snow prediction maps! You have to toggle to snow depth in inches in the pull down menu above the map! When you do that, it gives you the projected snow depth for the area over the next 16 days! I can see why Rocky doesn’t post that, because the snow depth projections are tiny!

https://www.instantweathermaps.com/GFS-php/conussfc.php?run=2020012912&time=PER&var=SNODI&hour=384

Jeff Schueller
Jeff Schueller

Lol.

Jeff Schueller
Jeff Schueller

An another above average winter day ! Plus, were gaining more daylight daily. Yup, spring is closing in ..FACTS.

INDY
INDY

Good cant wait to pull the rider out of the shed the smell of fresh cut grass ahhh and the Tigers home opener is March 30th more FACTS! INDY

Slim

I can not believe that MLB wants to start the season in March!
Slim

INDY
INDY

That’s what im saying probably will be snowing lol….INDY

Rocky (Rockford)
Rocky (Rockford)

Get ready in about 6 or 7 days we have a major pattern coming! It will be awesome! I love it!

Mookie
Mookie

In another words, yet another week upcoming of no cold or snow! I love it!

Mookie
Mookie

The winter crazies are getting restless I see this morning. WOOD still has a very warm 7 days upcoming, including 45 degrees on Monday. Enjoy it!

INDY
INDY

Well according to you it should have been 40 degrees for the last 3 weeks and no snow, still no 40’s and we have plenty of snow on the ground next ??? INDY

Mookie
Mookie

You two are terrible at listening to posters on here. I said WOOD had some 40’s upcoming in the forecast, and they still do.

Rocky (Rockford)
Rocky (Rockford)

I love these long winters that start in early November and last till April! Let’s see some monster snowstorms! I love it!

Mookie
Mookie

Funniest comment all day LOL

Barry in Zeeland
Barry in Zeeland

Yes these Winters are the best! Way below average snow, bare ground for most of the time, and temps running double digit above average. Couldn’t ask for anything better.

Rocky (Rockford)
Rocky (Rockford)

Hey Indy – great job and keep the truth about winter and the cold and snow rocking!

Rocky (Rockford)
Rocky (Rockford)

Of course the warm weather fanatics have been implying winter is over and very little cold and snow will be happening in the next month or so! Incredible back tracking!

Barry in Zeeland
Barry in Zeeland

Well maybe you would like to share some of these alleged posts with the rest of us? Sounds like someone is getting cranky as we fall further and further behind average each day with our snow total.

INDY
INDY

No thats your recipe sorry.. Just keep showing the maps ROCKY that gets them crazzy lol…INDY

Barry in Zeeland
Barry in Zeeland

Coming from the one who backs up absolutely nothing. Lol

INDY
INDY

Keep it going ROCKY you sure can tell a cold front is coming the post are getting wild on here lol…INDY

Rocky (Rockford)
Rocky (Rockford)

You know it!

INDY
INDY

Love it how some praise on a warmer December and January then we get dumped on with below normal temps tons of snow in February March April and a below normal cold May well that about sums up a cool Spring coming like Slim says pattern changes happen over 45+ days or more rutt roll….Nice work warm 3 ….Have a super but get ready for a back loaded Winter Wednesday…INDY

Mookie
Mookie

Wishcast

Barry in Zeeland
Barry in Zeeland

Now that’s funny, you’re contradicting yourself in the same post. First you say it will be cold from February through May, then you say the pattern changes after 45 days. 45 days would be sometime in March.

INDY
INDY

Da +45 or more but thanks for reading my post love it ….INDY

Rocky (Rockford)
Rocky (Rockford)

Rock on Indy and yes the temps in the low to mid 30’ s is still cold and so the pattern change will go from cold to very cold! Keep the facts the coming! Cold and snow rocks!

INDY
INDY

Basically let it snow let it snow let it snow …INDY

Mookie
Mookie

Today will be day 40 out of the last 48 days in which we’ve been average or above average temps. What an incredible stretch!

Rocky (Rockford)
Rocky (Rockford)

Breaking weather bulletin>>>>>>>in about 6 days the current pattern will be broken and we will be heading into a colder and snowy pattern! Contrary to the rumor on here from the warm weather fanatics, winter is not over! Rock n roll will never die!

Barry in Zeeland
Barry in Zeeland

Nobody has said it is over, but it is two thirds gone and pretty much nothing has happened except Winter Storm Not.

Mookie
Mookie

LOL No one said winter was over, nice try.

Of course, we will see some snow still. But what was said is that we may not see any significant arctic air this winter. Even the supposed “cold” coming is only highs in the mid to upper 20’s. Hardly even noteworthy. And it may not last very long either.

Barry in Zeeland
Barry in Zeeland

I don’t like those sunshine stats at all! At least the complete lack of snow has kept a lot of peoples spirits up and happy.