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.
Thursday, April 15, 2021-SW Michigan-Not A Pretty Day

Thursday, April 15, 2021-SW Michigan-Not A Pretty Day

Currently 38 with an average wind from the W of 4 mph. Feels like 38 degrees. Dew Point 38, Barometer 29.93, Humidity 99%, Visibility 7 mi., Sunrise 7:00 am, Sunset 8:24 pm.

Cloudy with a 50% chance of rain. High in the mid 40s. NW winds 10-15 mph with gusts to 25.

Partly cloudy with areas overnight frost. Low in the low 30s. NW winds 5-15 mph.

Not a nice day. It’s chilly and gray and not at all a proper Spring day.  Will we get more chilly days, nippy nights? Oh probably. This is, after all, Michigan. But none of it will last long and in spite of Mother Nature tossing occasional unpleasant weather at us, the tender little green buds are still growing, the ground continues to soften up and produce greenery. We are facing the right way, we just have to put on a brave face – and a jacket – and muddle along until we get back into real warmth and joy. We’ll make it.

Wednesday, April 14, 2021-SW Michigan-Couple Of 40 Degree Days

Wednesday, April 14, 2021-SW Michigan-Couple Of 40 Degree Days

Currently 43 with an average wind from the WSW of 3 mph. Feels like 43 degrees. Dew Point 31, Barometer 30.01, Humidity 63%, Visibility 10 mi, Sunrise 7:02 am, Sunset 8:23 pm.

Partly sunny today with a 20% chance of rain showers. High in the mid 40s. W winds 5 -15 mph.

Partly cloudy with  a 40% chance of rain showers possibly mixed with snow showers. Low in the mid 30s. W winds 5-10 mph.

Not a pleasant couple of days with temperatures in the 40s. This too shall pass, but in the meanwhile grab a jacket and think Spring.

Watching the winds along the gulf coast of Louisiana. The boat that capsized was a tragedy when they were caught unaware by sudden severe winds and high waves. People lost their lives which is always a tragic thing. There was a great interview from a crew member of another ship who explained how they were caught unaware and he was never so afraid in his life that his ship was going to capsize, too. Sounds like the skill of the captain that prevented that. Might have been more ships down and gone – it was rather a miracle that didn’t happen. The weather is both fascinating and frightening. Always.

Tuesday, April 13, 2021-SW Michigan-Lots Of Sunshine But Cool

Tuesday, April 13, 2021-SW Michigan-Lots Of Sunshine But Cool

Currently 47 with an average wind from the SSW of 7 mph. Feels like 47 degrees. Dew Point 38, Barometer 30.03, Humidity 72, Visibility 10 mi., Sunrise 7:03 am, Sunset 8:23 pm.

Lots of glorious sunshine. High in about 56 degrees. WSW winds 10-20 mph.

Some overnight clouds. Low 36. W winds 10-15 mph.

Well, we do have a lovely day as far as sunshine goes but don’t look for it to bring you much warmth. Our temperatures will not be giving us joy for a few days – in fact the next couple will only be in the 40s. Even some rain showers with that about Thursday morning and don’t be totally shocked to see a flake or two mixed in with it. Now that just isn’t nice. So hopefully that won’t happen. We can take heart from the fact that there is snow out to the west and possibly some heading for the east coast…but it would be more fun if we could simply bask in some sunshine and warmth while all that is gong on. We will again eventually, just not right away. Darn.

Monday, April 12, 2021-SW Michigan-Cool Down Continues

Monday, April 12, 2021-SW Michigan-Cool Down Continues

Currently 54 with an average wind from the WNW of 2 mph. Feels like 54 degrees. Dew Point 47, Barometer 29.69, Humidity 75%, Visibility 10 mi., Sunrise 7:05 am, Sunset 8:21 pm.

Mostly cloudy with a 20% chance of rain showers. High in the upper 50s. W winds 5 -1 5 with gusts to around 25 in the afternoon.

Mostly cloudy overnight with a low in the upper 3os. SW winds 5 – 10 mph.

Definitely continuing our downhill slide from nicely warm to decidedly cool. In fact, by Wednesday we might only have a high in the lower 40s. We’re not alone and it could be worse. In fact in the Minnesota area it is much worse with snow forecast. A large cold system swinging down from Canada is bringing cooler weather right on down as far as Florida for a bit. Not fun, going from record highs to what for many will become record cold. A mercurial time of year for sure. Never the less we can weather this and eventually the warm up will return. Be patient.

Sunday, April 11, 2021-SW Michigan-Cooler After Rain

Sunday, April 11, 2021-SW Michigan-Cooler After Rain

Currently 58 with an average wind from the S of 2 mph. Feels like 58 degrees. Dew Point 45, Barometer 29.39, Humidity 63%, Visibility 10 mi., Sunrise 7:07 am, Sunset 8:20 pm.

Mostly cloudy with a 50% chance of rain showers. High in the upper 50s. SE winds around 10 mph with gusts to 20 in the early afternoon.

Mostly cloudy overnight with a 30% chance of rain showers. Low in the mid 40s. Light winds.

Measured 1.45″ inches of rain overnight so we did get a good rain. Could have been much more though as the storm clouds sort of swirled around our area, once again leaving us in the donut hole with things going much better than the outer fringes. Quite the storm circling around us. Strange how this keeps happening. However, the rain we did get has further helped green things and little flowers to start popping out. Just in the past 2 or 3 days things have changed considerably. The cooler temperatures are a side effect of the much needed moisture that we have to put up with. I reckon we will do just that. Have no choice in the matter. But knowing it will inevitably warm up while enjoying the greening up of things is good enough.

Saturday, April 10, 2021-SW Michigan-Chances Of Rain For A Few Days

Saturday, April 10, 2021-SW Michigan-Chances Of Rain For A Few Days

Currently 57 with an average wind from the ESE of 3 mph. Feels like 57 degrees. Dew Point 51, Barometer 29.74, Humidity 82%, Visibility 9 mi., Sunrise 7:09 am, Sunset 8:18 pm.

100% chance of afternoon rain showers. High in the upper 60s. E winds around 10 mph becoming SE in the evening with gusts to 25.

100% chance of overnight rain with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Low in the upper 40s. SW winds 15-25 with gusts to around 25.

So-a few days more with chances of rain until it all clears up and the sunshine comes back full force. It’s going to take awhile to get back out of the 50 degree range and into some 60 degrees, but never fear, it’s on the way. But in the meantime we’ll have all the greenery growing thanks to these days of rain we had to put up with. Looking at the color green beginning everywhere sure makes it easier to wait for the return of warmth. For me, anyway. Green and blue are splendid colors. When the sky becomes a vivid blue with c0omforting and varied shades of green to add cheer, something like the lack of real warmth seems a minor issue. It’ll all come together again. Then eyes and souls will be soothed and delighted.

Friday, April 9, 2021-SW Michigan-Cooling Back Down With Rain

Friday, April 9, 2021-SW Michigan-Cooling Back Down With Rain

Currently 54 with an average wind from the SSE of 7 mph. Feels like 54 degrees. Dew Point 48, Barometer 29.68, Humidity 81%, Visibility 10 mi., Sunrise 7:10 am, Sunset 8:18 pm.

Mostly cloudy with a 50% chance of rain and a slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms. High in the mid 60s. S winds around 10 mph with gusts to 25.

Partly cloudy overnight with a low in the upper 40s. Light winds becoming SE around 5 mph.

Quite a bit cooler today and it will continue to cool off from our recent near record temperatures in the upper 70s, 80 degrees. Don’t think we’ll see that again for awhile and personally, I’m going to miss it until it returns.  Tomorrow we might hit 70, if we’re lucky, but then the dive goes along with carrying us back to 50 degrees. The recent rain has helped tremendously in helping to green things up. Little buds are opening up on bushes and small green things are pushing up from the ground. An absolutely delightful time of the year. New growth everywhere as everything comes back to life from winter hibernation. Just not quite time to be putting away the jackets yet.

Thursday, April 8, 2021-SW Michigan-High Temperatures, Storm Chances

Thursday, April 8, 2021-SW Michigan-High Temperatures, Storm Chances

Currently 66 with an average wind from the E of 3 mph. Feels like 66 degrees. Dew Point 55, Barometer 29.71, Humidity 67%, Visibility 10 mi., Sunrise 7:12 am, Sunset 8:16 pm.

70% chance of showers and thunderstorms. High in the upper 70s. SE winds 10-20 mph with gusts to 30.

70% chance of showers and t-storms overnight. Low in the lower 50s. S winds 5 – 15 mph with gusts to 25.

Near record temperatures again today but that will change over the next two or three days. By Sunday we will be about 20 degrees cooler. The rain and thunderstorms will sweep away our near 80s and drop us back into the 50s by Sunday. Looking forward to the rain but not necessarily to the chance of anything severe. And the chance is there. Just pays to be alert and attentive to weather alerts.  Personally, I’ve got alerts coming in on my IPhone, my IPad, my computer….when something heavy happens it sounds like an aviary around here with chirps popping up all over the house. Well, maybe not quite that noisy, but enough to definitely catch my attention.

Wednesday, April 7, 2021-SW Michigan-Record Or Near Record Temperatures

Wednesday, April 7, 2021-SW Michigan-Record Or Near Record Temperatures

Currently 68 with an average wind from the SE of 3 mph. Feels like 68 degrees. Dew Point 50, Barometer 29.91, Humidity 53%, Visibility 10 mi, Sunrise 7;14 am, Sunset 8:15 pm.

Mostly sunny until about midday becoming partly sunny with a 40% chance of isolated showers or thunderstorms. High in the upper 70s. S winds 5 – 10 mph with gusts to 25.

Partly cloudy tonight with a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Low in the upper 50s. SE winds 5 -10 mph with gusts to 20.

What a lovely morning. Little green buds are beginning to spring into life and it feels wonderful outside. The lovely rain the other day helped everything come back from their winter rest and with more rain expected over the next few days, we’ll be seeing more green every day. The best time of year for me. Spring is a delicious coming to life season and for too many years it’s come and gone barely noticed or been virtually non-existent – one day the dredges of winter, the next day everything is leafed out and it’s summer. Not this time around. This year we are blessed with exactly what spring is supposed to be.  I am so happy about it all.

We do seem to have four or five days of rain in our forecast – which may or may not become fact. The temperatures will drop back into the fifties later this week, but still and all, a nice stretch of weather will be ours.

Tuesday, April 6, 2021-SW Michigan-Fabulous Temperatures

Tuesday, April 6, 2021-SW Michigan-Fabulous Temperatures

Currently 62 with an average wind from the SSE of 3 mph. Feels like 62 degrees. Dew Point 51, Barometer 29.91, Humidity 65%, Visibility 10 mi., Sunrise 7:16, Sunset 8:14 pm.

Mostly sunny until about midday becoming partly sunny. High in the upper 70s. SW winds 5 -15 mph with gusts to 25.

Partly cloudy overnight with a low in the mid 50s. S winds around 10 mph.

What a glorious day! And to think it’s only the beginning of April. I’m loving this. I’m also seeing tiny green buds on the bushes out in my tiny backyard. Won’t be long, with a few more nice rains, that things will be nicely leafed out and green will be the color of my world. One of the best parts of living in Michigan is the varied and lovely shades of green we’re surrounded by in the summer. Fantastic. We are looking at a few more days with a chance of rain this week, so with pleasant temperatures also in the forecast for most of the week, let the greening begin!