GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – It’s a record that most people in West Michigan are not proud to break. One of the coldest high temperatures for May 12. The high reached only 46 in Grand Rapids. A far cry from the normal value of 68…or where we should be for this time of year.
The coldest May 12 occurred in 1966 with 43 degrees. The second coldest was 44 in 2006. The third is now 2013 at 46 degrees. That bumps the 47 we had in 1971 to the top fourth. Unfortunately, to accompany one of the coldest high temperatures on Sunday, will be near record low temperatures Sunday night in to Monday morning. FREEZE WARNINGS are in effect across the entire lower peninsula of Michigan as temps are expected to dip to between 25 and 30 degrees by Monday morning. Needless to say, a widespread hard frost/freeze is likely with clear skies, light winds, and a very dry airmass.
The coldest low in Grand Rapids for May 13 (Monday) occurred in 1946 at 27 degrees. The second coldest was 28 degrees in 1996, and 28 degrees in 1971. Again, our normal or average low temperature for this time of year should have us in the mid 40s. Make sure to cover up the vegetation, plants, or anything else that you can. Keep your fingers crossed for the fruit growers too. In 2012 most of them lost 98 percent or more of their crop to frost and simply cannot bear a repeat performance.
Get the complete West Michigan forecast at www.fox17online.com/weather. Click hereto see the hourly roundup of state temperatures each hour throughout the night from the National Weather Service. Dew point, wind, and other information is also plotted with these observations. While there is no guarantee, history has it that we should generally be free of any future frosts and freezes after Mother’s Day!
