GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A persistent northwesterly wind behind a strong cold front kept it unseasonably chilly on Saturday. In addition, low pressure over northeastern Ontario kept it unsettled enough for a few mixed showers of rain, graupel, and snow. (For an explanation of what graupel is, see this previous article.) The wintry mix that fell in Grand Rapids was enough for a trace of snow to officially be recorded at the airport. This trace was enough to tie a record snowfall for the date that was originally set back in 1953:
The cold high temperature of 49° also tied a record coldest high for the date:
Today also looks unseasonably cool with morning clouds and a few mixed showers early, followed by afternoon sunshine. High temperatures in the lower to middle 50s will be a little milder than yesterday, but still a good 15 to 20 degrees below average for this time of year. Although we’ll warm into the 60s on Monday, we’ll have to watch for the threat of rain showers by late afternoon and evening. That threat of rain will carry into early Tuesday as well:
Rainfall totals look light at this point at generally a quarter inch or less. Tuesday afternoon will feature some sunshine and the start of a warming trend that should last through Friday.
