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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, Dec. 23, 2022-SW Michigan-Winter Storm Elliott Continues

Friday, Dec. 23, 2022-SW Michigan-Winter Storm Elliott Continues

Currently 6 degrees with an average wind from the SSW of 7 mph. Feels like -10. Dew Point 5, Barometer 29.42, Humidity 100%, Visibility 0.77 mi., Sunrise 8:11 am, Sunset: 5:11 pm.

Blizzard Warning continues to Saturday 7:00 pm.

100%. Blustery. Blowing snow. 2-5″ possible. High 10-15. W winds 20-25 mph with gusts to 45. Wind chill reading to -19.

100%. Blustery. Blowing snow. 2-5″ possible. Low near 10. W winds 15-25 mph with gusts to 45. Wind chill readings to -13.

So far, it’s not horrible in my backyard. Got about 5″ of overnight snow and the wind is starting to kick up a bit now. The snow keeps falling but right now it’s not a heavy snow. Going to be interesting to see what this storm leaves us with. I know along the lake shore it’s a much harsher picture than it is right here, right now. Having gone out to shovel a path and a small clearing for feeding birds and critters, I can tell you it’s cold out there. When that wind hits you, you know this is not weather you want to spend a whole lot of time out in. And I suspect it’s going to become more so as the day goes along. Just be careful and stay warm.

 

Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022-SW Michigan-Dangerous Blizzard Moving In

Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022-SW Michigan-Dangerous Blizzard Moving In

Currently 26 with an average wind from the NE of 3 mph. Feels like 26 degrees. Dew Point 26, Barometer 29.8, Humidity 100%, Visibility 1.5 mi., Sunrise 8:11 am, Sunset 5:10 pm

100% chance of snow until midday then possibly mixed with rain in the afternoon. Snow accumulation 2-4″ possible by end of day. High in the lower 30s. SE winds 5-10 mph.

100% chance of snow. Blowing snow likely. 3-5″ possible. Low near 10. NW winds 5-10 mph with gusts to 25 increasing to 15-25 with gusts to 40. Wind chill as low as -4 to -14 overnight.

BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4:00 TODAY THROUGH 7:00 SATURDAY EVENING.

Be very, very careful later today about flash freezing. The temperature is going to dip quickly and that is a dangerous situation for driving. There is absolutely NO reason, unless you are part of a road crew or emergency responders – or some situation where life and death is in the balance – for anyone to be on the road tomorrow or Saturday.  (And my heart and my prayers go out to those dedicated folks for their service during weather like this.)  This is not our ordinary storm coming in and there is no way it’s going to miss us.

This is a completely dangerous storm. Winter Storm Elliott will bring snow, wind, temperatures dipping into very low numbers with outrageous wind chill readings, power outages.  This is going to be one for the record books and one people will be posting on Facebook decades from now…”Remember that 2022 blizzard that hit right before Christmas?” Trust me on this, you do NOT want to be going anywhere tomorrow or Saturday. Can’t even imagine how many Christmas plans have been changed due to this massive storm. (My family has moved our Christmas celebration to New Year’s Day)

Want to know how bad it’s going to get? There are meteorologists from The Weather Channel here in Michigan. Mike Seidel is in Holland. Anyone a Weather Channel watcher knows these folks only go to where the worst of the worst is scheduled to take place.

Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022-SW Michigan-Enjoy This Morning’s Sunshine

Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022-SW Michigan-Enjoy This Morning’s Sunshine

Currently 17 with a calm wind from the NW, feels like 17 degrees. Dew Point 14, Barometer 30.35, Humidity 85%, Visibility 10 mi., Sunrise 8:10 am, Sunset 5:10 pm.

Morning sun, afternoon mostly cloudy. High in the upper 20s. Light winds becoming E 10 mi. in the afternoon.

Cloudy tonight. Low in the lower 20s. SW winds 5-10 with gusts to 20.

Easy to look outside and see this bright sun shining and believe in a couple of days an entirely different picture will present itself. Hopefully if any of you have to be somewhere you’ll be traveling today or tomorrow morning. I wouldn’t be surprised if highway travel wasn’t stopped all together by authorities who need people to stay inside, stay safe and stay alive. And I’m fairly certain air travel is going to be out of the question for a couple of days. Feeling sorry for those with plans – and tickets – for those days.

I am expecting at least a foot of snow right here with strong winds creating blizzard conditions on Friday and Saturday doesn’t look like a picnic either.  With all of the power outages bound to happen, this is going to be a scary time for folks trying to keep warm as the temperature is going to plummet too. Trust me when I say this is a massive storm on the way. So much so that personally, my family has decided to put our Christmas celebration off until the following Sunday. Sort of a combination New Year’s and Christmas. Fingers crossed with enough power then to be able to cook and keep warm and enjoy our get together. The timing of this storm could not be worse, but it is going to happen.

Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022-SW Michigan-Winter Storm Elliott Is On The Way

Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022-SW Michigan-Winter Storm Elliott Is On The Way

Currently 23 with an average wind from the SE of 5 mph. Feels like 16 degrees. Dew Point 23, Barometer 30.28, Humidity 100%, Visibility 6 mi., Sunrise 8:10 am, Sunset 5:09 pm

Mostly cloudy with a high in the mid 30s. S winds 5-10 mph with gusts to around 25.

Partly cloudy with a low 10-15 mph. NW winds around 10 mph with gusts to 20 in the evening

Right now, it’s tough to say what our area will have to endure from Winter Storm Elliott. For certain there will be wind and it’s going to get cold. Any power outages are going to produce problems with so many of us trying to keep warm. For the present, it does look as if there will be plenty of snow involved with this system between Thursday and Sunday. We all know how quickly things can change, but I’m saying this time around be prepared as you can be for whatever comes our way. Stay off the roads if at all possible while the worst of this is ongoing. There is NO reason for anyone but emergency crews to have to be out and about if things get as bad as the forecast indicates right now. In the meantime, take advantage of today and Wednesday. Could be the only days for getting around and tending to things. After that? Going to be a wait and see situation.

Monday, Dec. 19, 2022-SW Michigan-Big Scary Storm Coming This Week

Monday, Dec. 19, 2022-SW Michigan-Big Scary Storm Coming This Week

Currently 22 degrees with an average wind from the NW of 2 mph. feels like 16 degrees. Dew Point 22, Barometer 30.24, Humidity 100%, Visibility 9 mi., Sunrise 8:09 am, Sunset 5:09 pm.

Cloudy with a high in the upper 20s. W winds around 10 mph.

Cloudy with a low in the lower 20s. Light winds.

My advice is if you have more holiday shopping or chasing around to do, you do it today, tomorrow, maybe early Wednesday because after that you’re not going to want to be out on the roads. Seriously, folks, this sounds like a wicked storm coming. Not only tons of snow and wind but the start-off could very likely bring what is called flash freezing on the roads. That makes them extremely dangerous.  Then we’ll be dealing with cold – in what could jolly well be power outages galore. Winter Storm Elliott may well change a lot of Christmas plans. Put it off until New Year’s Day? Might not be that far out of reality – or necessity. This is not going to be a fun week. A White Christmas is one thing, a snowed in, bitter cold Christmas is quite another and that could be the case this year. Just be ready, be prepared as much as you can be and don’t be caught off guard. This one doesn’t sound as if it’s going to be missing us.

Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022-SW Michigan-Snow And Cold For Next Christmas

Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022-SW Michigan-Snow And Cold For Next Christmas

Currently 26 with an average wind from the SSW of 5 mph. Feels like 20 degrees. Dew Point 26, Barometer 29.88, Humidity 100%, Visibility 0.79, Sunrise 8:09 am, Sunset 5:09 pm.

Cloudy with a 40% chance of scattered snow showers. High in the upper 20s. W winds 10-15 mph with gusts to 30.

Cloudy with a 40% chance of overnight snow showers. Low in the lower 20s. W winds 5-15 mph.

Got 13″ of snow from this system. That’s quite a lot of snow – 17″ the first storm, 13″ from this one – considering it’s not even officially Winter yet. Look for more snow this coming week with wicked cold temperatures. Going to definitely feel like Winter. Great setup for Christmas for snow-lovers. Strange as it seems, even with the bitter cold temperatures the forecast is for the chance of freezing drizzle around Thursday, so if that happens be very careful. Driving in the snow is bad enough but freezing drizzle/ice coated roads even worse.

Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022-SW Michigan-Expect More Snow

Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022-SW Michigan-Expect More Snow

Currently 25 with an average wind from the SE of 11 mph. Feels like 19 degrees. Dew Point 25, Barometer 29.57, Humidity 100%, Visibility 0.66 mi., Sunrise 8:08 am, Sunset 5:08 pm.

Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 1:00am Sunday.

100% chance of snow showers. 1-3″ possible. High in the lower 30s. SW winds 10-15 mph with gusts to 30.

100% chance of snow showers. 1″ possible. Low in the mid 20s. W winds 5-15 mph.

Woke to 7″ of fresh snow here and we’ll be getting more today, likely still more tomorrow. We could end up with a foot of this stuff by the end of the weekend. A White Christmas? Since there is now snow in the forecast next week from Wednesday right on to Christmas, no doubt about it. It’s going to be a snowy cold Christmas this time around.

Saturday, Dec. 16, 2022-SW Michigan-Winter Weather Advisory In Effect

Saturday, Dec. 16, 2022-SW Michigan-Winter Weather Advisory In Effect

Currently 29 with an average wind from the SSE of 7 mph. Feels like 22 degrees. Dew Point 28, Barometer 29.57, Humidity 93%, Visibility 10 mi., Sunrise 8:07 am, Sunset 5:08 pm.

Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 1:00 pm today through 1:00 am Sunday. Lake Effect Snow up to 6″ possible by the time it’s all over.

80% chance of snow showers today. 1-3″ possible. High in the lower 30s. S winds 10-15 mph.

90% chance of overnight snow showers. 1-3″ possible. Low in the upper 20s. SW winds 10-15 mph.

Only got a bit of overnight snow and no snow is falling right now, but it’s coming. Also just as a cautionary note, lake effect snow can be tricky. As we can all testify to. So, a forecast of a possible 6″ of snow by Sunday sometime could jolly well be quite a bit more than that when all is said and done. Keep the shovel handy, drive carefully, and be prepared for snow – however much we get.  Do be watchful of conditions. Going to be downright cold next week, so whatever we do get is going to stick around. Very likely a bit more added to it by Christmas.

Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022-SW Michigan-Rain Today, Snow Tomorrow

Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022-SW Michigan-Rain Today, Snow Tomorrow

Currently 38 with an average wind from the SSE of 4 mph. Feels like 34 degrees. Dew Point 38, Barometer 29.465, Humidity 100%, Visibility 10 mi., Sunrise 8:06 am, Sunset 5:08 pm.

Cloudy with a 20% chance of rain showers until midday. High in the upper 30s. S winds 5-15 mph with gusts to 25.

Mostly cloudy with a 50% chance of rain becoming snow showers overnight. L0w around 30. S winds 5-10 mph with gusts to 25.

Looks like light snow will start tonight and then snow will continue right on through Friday, into Saturday. Might still be getting some snow on Sunday, but maybe not. Appears more snow will be coming our way about midway through next week. Not much fear that we won’t be having a white Christmas this time around.

Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022-SW Michigan-Clouds, Probably Some Rain

Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022-SW Michigan-Clouds, Probably Some Rain

Currently 31 with an average wind from the ENE of 7 mph. Feels like 26 degrees. Dew Point 26, Barometer 29.92, Humidity 83%, Visibility 1.5 mi., Sunrise 8:06 am, Sunset 5:07 pm.

Cloudy with a 50% chance of rain possibility mixed with snow, maybe some freezing rain in the afternoon. High in the upper 30s. E winds 15-25 mph with gusts to 35.

100% chance of rain possibly mixed with freezing rain and sleet in the evening. Little or no accumulation expected. Low in the lower 30s. E winds 15-25 mph with gusts to 45.

AND – another entirely different forecast is temperatures around 40 today with a 60% chance of rain and a 100% chance of rain overnight with a low around 35.  So take your pick, make your choice. In either case, looks like some sort of rain is expected. Interesting.