September ended up warm and drier than normal. We had 15 days of 80° or better nearly twice the normal for September. Yesterday we reached 80° after a morning low of 57°. Our rainfall total was 1.82 inches for the month around two inches below normal.
There is a 30% of showers between noon and two today, maybe a tenth of an inch or so. Skies will gradually clear this afternoon with a high temperature in the mid-60s.
Weather History
1897: Temperatures reach record highs, with Lansing and Grand Rapids hitting 89 degrees. It is the highest temperature ever recorded in October at Grand Rapids.
1974: Cloudy and cold weather prevails, with high temperatures in the 40s and snowflakes observed in Muskegon.
On October 1, 1974, the earliest snow was observed with a trace of snowfall in Detroit.
NWS Forecast
Forecast Discussion
Scattered Showers and Thunderstorms Today Cloudy skies over southern lower Michigan which will provide stability this morning out ahead of an approaching front. The forecast seems on track with a cold front moving southeastward across the region this afternoon. Anomalous PWATS of 1 to 1.25 inches are present ahead of the incoming front. However the drier air over the area will keep QPF from any showers or storms low. Latest HREF has CAPE values only upwards of 500 J/kg along and east of the US 127 corridor. While there is weak shear aloft, the area west of US 127 is fairly stable and thus only showers are expected. The cold front will bring convection through early afternoon with thunderstorms possible along and east of the US 127 corridor. Skies will clear out quickly behind the front with fair and mild weather tonight into tomorrow as high pressure in the mid to low level builds over the region. - Mostly Dry Weather through next Weekend The mostly dry pattern continues this week, Model guidance is in fair agreement for a couple chances for rain late this week into next weekend. These will occur with frontal passages on Friday morning and again late Saturday into Sunday. The weekend front will have deeper moisture to work with across the northern forecast area so POPs are shaded higher there. Some elevated instability could result in some thunderstorms as well.
It’s still summer! Exactly why I say Michigan has some of the best weather in the country from May to Mid October.
Welcome to October. Looking back at September 2024 it was a very warm month. It was the warmest on record at Sault Ste Marie with a mean of 64.0 they have been keeping records at the Sault since 1888. It was the 2nd warmest at Muskegon and Marquette, 5th warmest at Saginaw, 6 warmest at Alpena 9th warmest at Grand Rapids and the 10th warmest at Lansing. Detroit, Flint and Houghton Lake were further down the list.
Slim
September at Grand Rapids had a mean of 66.9 that is good for the 9th warmest on record. The high for the month was 88 on the 15th 16th and 21st the low for the month was 41 on the 8th there were 15 days of 80 or better and 28 days of 70 or better. There was just 1.32” of rainfall there was just 1.04” here in MBY. At Lansing it was the 10th warmest September on record with a mean of 66.0 it was the 3rd driest September at Lansing with just 0.65” of total rainfall.
Slim