Browsed by
Author: Patricia Murphy

An unquenchable thirst for knowledge about the weather, an observer of world-wide weather events, and an addicted fan of the Weather Channel on TV. Some occurrences from our not too distant past have left me horrified to this day- such as the possibly avoidable tragedy of the damage and death trailing behind Katrina, where human error combined with Mother Nature for sheer terror, the unspeakable destructive Tsunamis in Japan and Thailand, scenes and sounds of which I can hardly bear to see or hear. But I do see and hear it all because I am enthralled, fascinated, by weather driven happenings every bit as much as I am captivated by the clouds in our ever-changing sky. No impressive credentials, no list of meaningful letters trailing after my name, this is merely me, just another weather junky having my say about it all.
Friday, Jan. 19, 2024-SW Michigan-Watch For Bitter Cold Temperature Tonight

Friday, Jan. 19, 2024-SW Michigan-Watch For Bitter Cold Temperature Tonight

Currently 18 with a 4 mph wind from the ENE. Feels like 5 mph. Dew Point 15, Barometer 30.1, Humidity 92%, Visibility 6 mi., Sunrise 8:08 am, Sunset 5:38 pm.

Mostly cloudy with a 50% chance of snow showers. High 15-20. N winds 5-10 with gusts to 20.

Mostly cloudy with a 20% chance of snow. Low near 5 below zero. N winds 10 becoming w overnight. Wind chill readings as low as minus 3 to minus 13.

Its isn’t as if we’re going to wake up to a balmy weather pattern, but you can take heart that tonight will be the bottom we had to hit in order to start going up again. The next few nights will still be miserable cold, but nothing like tonight. And in a few days our weather will warm up considerably over what we’ve been stuck with. Of course, next week’s 30 degrees and chance of rain will bring it’s own issues…probably that wintry mix that makes things dangerous to drive and walk…but at least it won’t feel as scary cold again. We’ve manged to handle this, we can handle whatever comes next. Just stay warm tonight. Going to be wicked cold.

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024-SW Michigan-Getting Through This Brutal Week

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024-SW Michigan-Getting Through This Brutal Week

Currently 23 with a 2 mph wind from the WNW. Feels like 16 degrees. Dew Point 20, Barometer 29.99, Humidity 92%, Visibility 2.9 mi., Sunrise 8:09 am, Sunset 5:39 pm.

Cloudy with a 50% chance of snow showers. High in the mid 20s. SW winds around 10 mph becoming W in the afternoon.

90% chance of overnight snow. 1-2″ possible. Low near 15. NE winds 5-10 mph.

We are getting near the end of this miserable weather. At least the frigid temperatures. By this weekend – next week – they should be a thing of the past. Are we still stuck with all this snow? Yeah, sort of. Should get some rain next week which will have to help melt some of it away. At least, hopefully, off the tree branches that are broken and falling. We need to hang in there for a couple more days. And Friday night should be colder than what we’ve been, but that should be the end of it. And we’re in the last half of January. The Weather Channel is talking about above normal temperatures for February through April. SO looking forward to that.

Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024-SW Michigan-Cold Snowy Week Continues

Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024-SW Michigan-Cold Snowy Week Continues

Currently 12 with a 4 mph wind from the SSW. Feels like -6. Dew Point 6, Barometer 29.86, Humidity 100%, Visibility 1.6 mi., Sunrise 8:10 am, Sunset 5:35 pm.

Winter Weather Advisory in effect – again. These Winter Advisories just keep coming at us.

50% chance of snow showers. High 15-20. SW winds 15-25 with gusts to around 35. Wind Chill as low as -14.

70% chance of snow showers. Low 10-15. W winds 5-15 mph with gusts to 30.

This miserable weather just keeps on keeping on. The cold is unrelenting and the snow, even if it manages to come down in light amounts, is still falling down on us. There really is no relief in sight until next week. In the meantime there are so many of us virtually snowed in…it’s too cold to get out there and too much snow to be driving on.  Those who absolutely have to be out and about are driving on slippery roads and in frigid air. There is nothing good to be said about this week’s weather. None.

Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024-SW Michigan-Cold Temps And Lake Effect Snow Continue

Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024-SW Michigan-Cold Temps And Lake Effect Snow Continue

Currently 10 with a 4 mph wind from the WSW. Feels like -8 degrees. Dew Point 10, Barometer 29.96, Humidity 100%, Visibility 1.2 mi., Sunrise 8:10 am, Sunset 5:34 pm.

Winter Weather Advisory Continues until later this afternoon.

80% chance of snow showers. 1″ or less expected. High near 10. W winds 15-20 with gusts to 30. Wind Chill to -12.

70% chance of snow showers. 1″ or less expected. Low 5-10 with gusts to 30. Wind Chill to -3 to -13.

This miserable weather continues. The frigid Arctic air will hang around this week and the Lake Effect Snow will continue to shower us with more snow. Not seeing any more huge amounts of snow being dumped on us for awhile…and it will warm up next week. But getting through this week is a toughie. It’s depressing and uncomfortable. Around my yard, it’s really sad to see that there are branches falling due to the heavy snow that is impossible to remove or lighten. Thankfully, at least so far, it looks as if next week will help lighten the load on the trees and bushes. But in the meantime, they continue to break. This is going to be a mess by the time it’s all over and done.

Monday, Jan. 15, 2024-SW Michigan-Bitter Cold Air All Week

Monday, Jan. 15, 2024-SW Michigan-Bitter Cold Air All Week

Currently 5 with a 2 mph wind from the SSW. Feels like -13 degrees. Dew Point 1, Barometer 30.14, Humidity 100%, Visibility 4 mi., Sunrise 8:11 am, Sunset 5:33 pm.

Winter Weather Advisory in effect- frigid, dangerous air.

70% chance of snow showers. Little or no accumulation expected. High near 14. W winds 10-15 mph with wind chills to minus 20 until midday.

80% chance of snow showers. 1″ possible. Low 5-10. W winds 10-15 mph with wind chills as low as minus 11.

This is brutal, beastly cold weather. And, unfortunately, it’s expected to hang around making outdoor life unbearable all week. Looking ahead, it seems as if Friday night should be the coldest of all this week’s cold misery. One good bit of news, temperatures should be considerably better next week. It’s just a matter of existing through this week in order to get there.

Not at all sure of total snowfall over the past week. I measure over 18″ in my backyard. my son measures well over 20″ in his. All I can say is we have WAY too much snow. This is not one of those un-wintry months of January we’ve experienced over the past few years. This one is making a mark in the statistics list. Lucky us.

Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024-SW Michigan-Crazy Amount of Snow

Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024-SW Michigan-Crazy Amount of Snow

Currently 14 with an 8 mph wind from the W. Feels like -4. Dew Point 11, Barometer 29.92, Humidity 100%, Visibility 0.75 mi., Sunrise 8:11 am, Sunset 5:32 pm.

100% chance of more snow. 1-3″ possible. High 15-20 with gusts to 25.

70% chance of overnight snow. 1-2″ possible. Low 5-10. SW winds 10-15 mph with gusts to 25. Wind chill as low as -2 to -12.

This is insane. The snow just keeps coming. Not a sound of a snow plow on any of the streets and I can’t imagine how the driveway plow guys are going to be able to get to the driveways until that happens. I measured a fresh 11″ of overnight snow, which puts more than 17″ in my backyard. This is crazy. Not only the snow, but it’s cold and going to get colder. I’m quite concerned about the weight of the snow on the tree branches. They’re bowed down fairly heavy right now without much of a chance of it being removed from them.

I can not for the life of me imagine why anyone would willingly live in a climate like this.

Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024-SW Michigan-More Snow Expected

Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024-SW Michigan-More Snow Expected

Currently 25 with a 6 mph from the WNW. Feels like 12 degrees. Dew Point 25, Barometer 29.36, Humidity 100%, Visibility 4 mi., Sunrise 8:11 am, Sunset 5:31 pm.

Windy. 90% chance of snow. Areas of blowing snow. 1-3″ possible. High in the upper 20s. W winds 15-25 mph with gusts to around 40.

100% chance of snow. Patchy blowing snow. 4-7″ expected. Low near 15. W winds 15-20 with gusts to 40.

I really do not understand why the Winter Storm Warning expires later today when we’re expected the most snow overnight tonight. At any rate, we are definitely expecting snow tonight, tomorrow, and every day until around next weekend. Toss in the Arctic Blast cold air and we’re in for a mostly miserable week of weather. Do not try to tell me why anyone would like this sort of weather. I might hear your words, but I’d never, ever understand them.

Friday, Jan. 12, 2024-SW Michigan-Winter Storm Warning In Effect

Friday, Jan. 12, 2024-SW Michigan-Winter Storm Warning In Effect

Currently 34 with a 9 mph wind from the ESE. Feels like 21 degrees. Dew Point 30, Barometer 29.69, Humidity 94%, Visibility 2.7 mi., Sunrise 8:12 am, Sunset 5:29 pm.

Winter Storm Warning in effect until Saturday 7 pm.

Windy. 100% chance of snow. Patchy blowing snow. Snow could be heavy at times. 3-5″ expected. High in the lower 30s. E winds 15-25 with gusts to 50.

100% chance of overnight snow. 2-4″ expected. Low in the mid 20s. E winds 15-25 becoming W 15-20with gusts to 50.

Well, we know it’s coming. We know we’ll get snow and cold. What we don’t know is how much snow we’ll end up with. Or exactly how cold the Arctic Blast will drop us down to. Winter Storm Gerri is on the move but where she dumps the most and where things thin out a bit is impossible to know until the storm has moved on and we get to view what’s left. At any rate, I hope by now you’ve prepared as much as possible. Be safe. If at all possible stay off the roads. Let the road crews do their thing. And if the power goes out, do your best to stay warm and wait for those crews to do their thing, too.  All will be well eventually.

Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024-SW Michigan-The Worst Is Yet To Come

Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024-SW Michigan-The Worst Is Yet To Come

Currently 34 with a calm wind from the SSE. Feels like 28 degrees. Dew Point 33, Barometer 29.63, Humidity 100%, Visibility 7 mi., Sunrise 8:12 am, Sunset 5:28 pm.

Winter Storm Watch In Effect From Friday Through Saturday.

90% chance of snow showers today. High in the mid 30s. S winds 5-10 mph becoming W 5-15 mph in  the afternoon.

Mostly cloudy with a 20% chance of overnight snow showers. Low in the mid 20s. E winds 5-10 mph with gusts to 20.

As wintry as it looks and feels right now, this is nothing. Winter Storm Gerri is set to move in on Friday, leaving us with snow in numbers that vary from site to site – and then the Arctic Blast cold follows right on its heels. The snow we get, which looks to be substantial, we are going to be stuck with for the foreseeable future. With snow showers predicted every day after that for as far into the future as I can see. This is a brutal month of January, determined to play havoc with any ideas one might harbor about a mild winter.

Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2023-SW Michigan-You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet

Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2023-SW Michigan-You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet

Currently 34 with a calm wind from the WNW. Feels like 21 degrees. Dew Point 31, Barometer 29.43, Humidity 98%, Visibility 8 mi., Sunrise 8:13 am, Sunset 5:27 pm.

Cloudy with a 40% chance of more snow today. High in the lower 30s. W winds 10-20 mph with gusts to around 35.

90% chance of overnight snow. 1-2″ expected. Low in the upper 20s. SW Winds 5-10 mph becoming SE.

As snowy as it is, there’s much more coming. Winter Storm Gerri is set to tuck into that Arctic Blast of cold air on the way at which time we could get more than 12″ of snow by Sunday. Yeah…and with all that frigid air coming right on the storm’s heels, whatever we get we’re stuck with. With more snow coming darn near every day in the foreseeable future. This ugly month of January is making up for our late start on the season. Sounds to be gruesome all the way to the end. Just be ready. And stay safe.