WEST MICHIGAN — While there are several folks that can hardly wait for some appreciable snow, Mother Nature had other plans for West Michigan this weekend. Record high temperatures being broken at every major reporting station…and not just by a degree or two!
The record high for December 13 in Grand Rapids was set way back in 1920 at 57 degrees. We smashed that Sunday as highs reached 61. Muskegon’s old record was 60 set back in 1975. That also was beat with a new high of 63. The other National Weather Service major climate reporting station is Lansing that had a record high of 56 set in 1975. That record was destroyed at 63 degrees!
This warmth is being generated by a jet stream (our fast-moving upper level winds) that is well to our north, and also a strong low pressure system coming out of the central U.S. carrying plenty of moisture (rain) and warm air. Luckily (or not) West Michigan is again the front side of this system in what meteorologists refer to a the “warm sector” of the storm. That means all liquid precipitation for us. And while the low tracks in to Wisconsin it continues to draw up plenty of moisture, mild temperatures, and even some areas of fog.
More rain arrives overnight and in to Monday as the cold front slides through the state Monday morning. Our warmest temperatures on Monday will occur early (before the cold front passes) then fall gradually throughout the remainder of the day. We may actually break another temperature record for Monday if we can hit 60 or better before the cold front slides through. The record high temperature in Grand Rapids for December 14 is 59 degrees set in 1975.
This warm weather will NOT last long! In fact, a winter blast is expected beginning Wednesday evening/night and continuing through Thursday, Friday, and Saturday with lake-effect snow likely. Get more at www.fox17online.com/weather.
