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Month: February 2018

Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018 South West Michigan – Closing Out February With A Mostly Sunny Day

Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018 South West Michigan – Closing Out February With A Mostly Sunny Day

Currently 50 with a WSW wind of 10 mph dropping that to feeling like 46 degrees. Dew Point 36, Humidity 58%, Barometer 29.82, Visibility 10 mi, Sunrise 7:19 am, Sunset 6:30 pm. Mostly sunny today with a few passing clouds. High 57. WSW winds 5 – 10 mph.

Partly cloudy becoming mostly cloudy overnight. Low 35. ENE winds 10 – 20 mph.

It’s a fine day to be bidding goodbye to February. Of course, no matter what the day’s weather turned out to be, it would be good to wave farewell to the month of February. A short, usually brutal weather month with the sole purpose of holding the hopeful month of March at bay. Well, toss in Valentine’s Day and the tip of the hat to a rodent, Groundhog’s Day, but other than that, not a heck of a lot going for the month.

I’m always so encouraged to see the back of February because – are you ready for my annual saying? “March could be nice!” And it jolly well could be. Each one that rolls around has the opportunity to show its best side, so we shall see what this year’s version presents. I’m thinking positive…but then, I usually am. We shall see.

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Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018 South West Michigan – Some Clouds, Some Warmth Today

Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018 South West Michigan – Some Clouds, Some Warmth Today

Currently 48 with a SSW wind of 13 mph dropping that to feeling like 43 degrees. Dew Point 27, Humidity 43%, Barometer 30.19 & falling, Visibility 10 mi, Sunrise 7:21 am, Sunset 6:29 pm. Partly cloudy today with a high of 55. SW winds 15 – 25 mph.

Partly cloudy becoming overcast tonight with a slight chance of rain showers. Low 42. SW winds 5 – 10 mph.

Not a bad day and with the wind having died down from the blustery show it put on the past few days, I’m heading out to the little back yard to make a dent in the spring cleaning. Simply can not resist the urge, so off I go to enjoy the day.

Monday, Feb. 26, 2018 South West Michigan – Sunshine Galore Today

Monday, Feb. 26, 2018 South West Michigan – Sunshine Galore Today

Currently 33 with an average wind from the SW of 8 mph dropping that to feeling like 26. Dew Point 28, Humidity 84%, Barometer 30.22 7 rising, Visibility 10 mi, Sunrise 7:22 am, Sunset 6:27 pm.  Plenty of sunshine today, high 47. SW winds 10 -15 mph.

Clear skies. Low 34. SS winds 5 – 10 mph.

I know it’s not spring. I know there will be more snow, but I’m going to get out in my tiny backyard tomorrow and start cleaning it up for when spring does get here. I can’t stand it another day. What leaves are dry enough, I’ll rake up and dispose of, rearrange the pile of covered outdoor furniture – may even uncover it, I don’t know. And yes, I realize it will still be snowed on between now and the time to set it out to be sitting on. I don’t care.  I’m simply too eager to ignore my impulses to get rid of winter as much as I can. Can’t get at things today, but today and tomorrow promise sunshine and some decent temperatures, which is good enough for me.

Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018 South West Michigan – Serious Flooding In This Area

Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018 South West Michigan – Serious Flooding In This Area

Currently 35 with a WSW wind of 26 mph dropping that to feeling like 23. Cloudy to partly cloudy skies today, high in the mid to upper 30s. WSW winds 25 – 35 mph with gusts to 40. Wind Advisory is in effect for today.

Mostly clear tonight, low 29. WSW winds 10 – 20 mph.

The wind out there this morning is bitter. Takes your breath away it’s so strong. During the night, somewhere around 1:00 or 3:00 the bands of strong wind that came through were fierce! Shook the house and I’d guess they had to be 40+ mph.  Today it’s a strong steady wind, but with the occasional gusts that are even stronger.  Most certainly not a day to be doing anything outside.

The flooding is dreadful this year. Highest since 2013, which was a disaster. Fingers crossed that the state won’t be looking at much more precipitation, so the levels can begin to recede soon.

Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018 South West Michigan – Serious Flooding Going On

Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018 South West Michigan – Serious Flooding Going On

Currently 33 with an ENE wind of 9 mph dragging that down to feeling like 26. Dew Point 27, Humidity 78%, Barometer 30.23 & falling, Visibility 10 mi, Sunrise 7:25 am, Sunset 6:25 pm. Considerable clouds with a high of 43. E wind 10 -20 mph.

90% chance of overnight rain. Becoming windy. SE winds 20 – 30 mph with gusts to 40. Low 34.

Worst flooding since 2013 going on here and unhappy to see more rain coming tonight, which isn’t needed or wanted. I’m lucky, I have no issues, no need to worry where I am – but I’ve been there in the past so know the grief flooding can bring.

Dashed out to the store this morning and saw one of the fancy office buildings built along the Grand River which is built on columns so it’s up high and the parking is under the building. The lovely building is nicely up in the air – unfortunately the parking area is not. There is a Road Closed sign off the highway and the whole area is underwater. Sure hope those folks can work from home ’cause they definitely won’t be going in to work for awhile. The water is SO high to the bottom of the bridge I drove across. Scary.

It’s not only the low-lying homes dealing with the cold floodwater right now, it’s the ones that don’t usually have to worry about it being a problem. Plenty of roads are closed right now and I know they are watching, very closely, the very expensive-to-live-in apartments in town that had to be vacated in 2013 due to basement flooding that damaged electricity and the whole nine yards. Hopefully enough improvements have been done by now so this won’t be an issue, but I guess it’s a wait and see thing for the residents there.

What Michigan does not need right now is more precipitation, so hopefully we won’t get much more for awhile.

Friday, Feb. 23, 2018 South West Michigan – Another Cloudy Day

Friday, Feb. 23, 2018 South West Michigan – Another Cloudy Day

Currently 37 with a S wind of 6 mph dropping that to feeling like 32. Dew Point 37, Humidity 98%, Barometer 30.10 & falling, Visibility 4 mi., Sunrise 7:27 am, Sunset 6:23 pm. Cloudy with a high of 41-43. SW winds 10 -20 mph.

Cloudy tonight with a low of 31. NW winds 10 – 20 mph.

Yesterday brought us a goodly, surprising, amount of sunshine mixed in with the clouds. And the sun felt SO warm when you could find a spot and be in it. Today that cloud cover looks fairly solid and unlikely to allow any sunshine to sneak through.

Flooding issues here big time. It sounds as if we’re approaching the 2013 level, which was devastating even to the downtown Grand Rapids area. Since then a lot of improvements have been made to flood walls, etc., so no likely to see anything to that extent this time around. But it’s sure being watched carefully. Only a small percentage of rain today, maybe a bit Sunday, but hopefully not enough to add to the woes. We’ll have to see. But for certainly the low lying areas are going to be hit with serious flooding this time around.

Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018 South West Michigan – Not Much More Than Clouds Today

Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018 South West Michigan – Not Much More Than Clouds Today

Currently 30 with an ENE wind of 12 mph dropping it down to feeling like 20. Dew Point 25, Humidity 82%, Barometer 30.63 & rising, Visibility 10 mi, Sunrise 7:24 am, Sunset 6:22 pm. Mostly cloudy with a high around 41. E winds 10 – 15 mph.

Cloudy tonight. Areas of freezing rain possible. Low around 30. E winds 10 – 20 mph.

Not much going on today. Maybe a peek at the sun once in awhile, but for the most part we’ll be looking up at clouds. At least no snow or rain coming down on us. That’s a good thing.

Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018 South West Michigan – Nothing But Clouds Today

Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018 South West Michigan – Nothing But Clouds Today

Currently 30 with a NW wind of 10 mph dropping that to feeling like 21. Dew Point 21, Humidity 85%, Barometer 30.47 & rising, Visibility 10 mi, Sunrise 7:30 am, Sunset 6:21 pm. Cloudy today with a high of 36. NW winds 5 -10 mph.

Cloudy tonight, low 25. NE winds 5 – 10 mph.

The warm temperatures – which are now gone from my area – and all of that rain pretty much finished up the snow ground cover. Granted, there are still the remains of the high mountains of plowed up snow here and there, but nothing I can see on the ground. Got 1.38″ of rain since yesterday and there are Flood Warnings out all over the place for the next few days, at least.It’s great to see bare ground again, even if it is all a muddy, slushy mess.

Temperature dropped enough overnight to leave a thin coating of ice on most surfaces. I suspect driving in to work for those early morning folk wasn’t all that much fun. With the huge amount of rain over the past day or so not having anyplace to go, it sort of puddled up and froze up a bit overnight. Not good. Our daytime temperatures won’t be bad, but the nights will still be dipping down low enough to freeze.

Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018 South West Michigan – We Have A Warm Rainy Day

Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018 South West Michigan – We Have A Warm Rainy Day

Currently 56 with a SW wind of 12 mph dropping that only slightly to feeling like 53. Dew Point 55, Humidity 96%, Barometer 29.87 & rising, Visibility 4 mi, Sunrise 7:31 am, Sunset 6:19 pm. 100% chance of rain today. Rainfall could near 1″. High 57 – 60. SSW winds 10 – 20 mph.

100% chance of overnight rain. Rainfall could near 1″. Low 30. W winds 10 – 15 mph.

Got 1″ of rain overnight. In fact, slept with the window half open to enjoy the sound of that rain. How lovely. And today will be exceptional. We all know a 60″ day in February, in Michigan, is not the norm. However, today, in addition to the rain, we will be loving all those unusual degrees of warmth. Of course, that’s going to tumble, it won’t stay up there after today, but for today….no snow, just rain. Wow!

Monday, Feb. 19, 2018 South West Michigan – Cloudy Skies Rain On The Way

Monday, Feb. 19, 2018 South West Michigan – Cloudy Skies Rain On The Way

Currently 39 with a SSE wind of 5 making it feel like 35 degrees. Dew Point 36, Humidity 89%, Barometer 29.93, Visibility 5 mi, Sunrise 7:33 am, Sunset 6:18 pm. Cloudy skies this morning with a 90% chance of afternoon rain. High 43. SE winds 5 – 10 mph.

100% chance of overnight rain. Low 44. SSW winds 10 – 15 mph.

There is a River Flood Warning in effect from now until further notice for the low lying areas hereabouts. The ground is still more or less frozen and all the rain/melting snow has nowhere to go other than into the swollen creeks and rivers. Not going to be pleasant in and around the usual suspects when flooding time arrives. I’ve been there, done that. Lived along the river for awhile and I can tell you huge chunks of jammed ice crowding around your house isn’t fun. Not in the least. Nice to see the warmer temperatures, but not like this.