COLD!
January 22nd, 2013 at 2:06 pm by Bill Steffen under Bill's Blog, Weather
We got down to -2 in G.R., the coldest temperature in two years. By 8 AM (and it could have gotten a degree or two colder after 8 AM – sunset is 8:06 AM) it was down to -8 in Hastings and Marshall and -7 in Battle Creek. The lowest I saw in Michigan was -24 at Champion in the U.P. The coldest in the mainland U.S. was -38 at Babbitt MN. Not too far north of S. Ste. Marie, it got to -41F at Chapleau and -43 at Geraldton. The coldest spot I was was at Landsdowne House, Ontario, where it had reached -49F by 8 AM EST. Here’s the morning low temperature map. Check out Josh’s pictures of the lighthouse and beach at St. Joseph. This is the mid-point of winter in terms of temperature. We’re heading into the brighter half of winter as daylight lengthens. Snowcover this AM: 24″ Grand Marais, 16″ Alba, 12″ Marquette, 11″ Gaylord, 10″ Boyne City, 8″ Allendale – actually anywhere from 1″ to 10″ in our viewing area.
Here’s pictures of winter in West Michigan, including ice on the breakwater at the Holland Beach and a pair of sundogs in Caledonia this AM.
They should give free bus rides when the wind chill is 0 or below like on days when the temp is above 90. The wait at the bus stop was unbearable. Its only right. You cant do it for heat and not for bitter cold too!!
I think you misunderstand what that is for Nick. It’s for Ozone, not heat.
They make the kids stay inside for recess on those days can’t they show a sign if caring for those waiting in the bitterly cold too?0
I thought we were talking about Free bus rides do to Ozone action days?
I’m not following, how would free bus rides change the length of time one would be waiting for a bus at a bus stop? We are talking about The Rapid right? Maybe I’m misunderstanding you.
Never said anything about the ozone action day just stating giving out free rides when the wind chill is 0 or below shows they care about the CUSTOMER plus less people want to wait for the bus on days like this
I guess one could dress for the weather.
True. But it does have to make money. If more people rode the bus, it might be feasible.
Dude, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Someone is paying for it.
Truer words have never been spoken.
CUE: Free Ride -Edgar Winter Group – YouTube
► 3:09► 3:09
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek_4ADcA_Ik.
I guess last nite was the maximum… warm up from here, huh?
Hope they finally received a little more snow up north! I was up north skiing at Boyne Mountain last Thurs/Friday, and I was surprised that only 4 chairlifts were open and a lot of runs were still closed due to lack of snow. Horrible winter the locals were saying and slow too for businesses. Maybe the skiers and snowmobilers will be more in the mood now.
Boyne City has 10″ of snow on the ground this AM – I’m sure the resort has been making snow like crazy if and where it’s needed.
Thanks for the report. Boyne City had only about half that when I was up there last weekend, so it will surely help!
How much snow does Cheboygan have, Bill?
I looked here: http://kamala.cod.edu/mi/latest.asus63.KAPX.html and it says 5″.
It is cold, but then again it’s Michigan, right Bill?! I am wondering if you could comment on Traverse City area radar, the islands seem to create a blockage, with no-snow channels between them; is that ‘normal’ for Lake Effect?
Thanks to you & ALL the weather crew for being for dedicated to reporting and getting the word out on this cold blast!
The islands can make a little difference, but the main issues are the fetch (distance the air travels) over open water…and that includes the distance the air is modified crossing Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. Also elevation (the air has to lift to get over the higher terrain from Gaylord to Mancelona/Kalkaska to Lake City), the air/water temperature difference, the general lift and moisture of the air mass and the shear (difference in wind as you go up).
The National weather service is calling for an increase of lake effect snow tonight? Is this true?
Record low maximum temp in Marquette:
RECORD EVENT REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MARQUETTE MI
930 AM EST TUE JAN 22 2013
…RECORD COLDEST DAILY HIGH TEMPERATURE TIED YESTERDAY AT THE
MARQUETTE NATIONAL WEATHER OFFICE…
THE HIGH TEMPERATURE FOR YESTERDAY JANUARY 21ST WAS -3 AT THE
MARQUETTE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE LOCATED IN NEGAUNEE
TOWNSHIP. THIS TIED THE PREVIOUS COLDEST HIGH TEMPERATURE FOR THIS
DATE OF -3 SET IN 1963.
WEATHER RECORDS FOR THE MARQUETTE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE
LOCATED IN NEGAUNEE TOWNSHIP DATE BACK TO 1961.
Bill, Your fingers must be Frozen.. It’s No Wonder since THE SUNSET at 8:06 A.M. .???? Looking out For YOU..
. God Bless
It’s 5 o’clock somewhere! cue Pink Floyd…Panther…ANYTHING!! LET’S ROCK!!
Lol, Irish…. SPIN This : Molly Hatchet- Flirting With Disaster – YouTube
► 5:01► 5:01
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wxAMa3Prhk. Southern ROCK !!!! Enjoy !!!!!
ROCK ON!!
Was up at Crystal Mountain yesterday…bitter, but great snow…thay are completely open, and had about 4 fresh inches..the drive was nasty though
Pretty good national 3 month outlook. Cold February followed by a warmer than average March and April:
http://www.weather.com/video/forecast-for-the-next-3-months-33830
I’ll take that!
Same here! We need one more big a$$ snow storm then it can be hotter than the sun!
WINDS ARE WEST AGAIN HERE COMES THE LK SNOW BANDS 2-4 INCHES TONIGHT FOR WEST MICHIGAN 3-6 INCHES FRIDAY AND MAYBE A BLIZZARD NEXT TUESDAY WINTER IS ROLLING IN GOOD OLD WEST MICHIGAN YEAAA GOOD OLD WEST MICHIGAN !!!BILL GET YOUR ICE SKATES OUT THE GRAND RIVER IS FROZZEN WE NEED A GOOD FLOOD THIS YEAR TO WASH MY LEAFS AWAY OUT OF MY WOODS WE ARE STILL IN A DROUGHT BUT EVERY LITTLE FLAKE HELPS …BILL IT’S 4* OUT THE YARDofBRICKS STICK THIS DAY IN THE RECORD BOOKS HERE ….STAY WARM STAY SAFE DRINK SOME SPRITE BE NICE AND ALWAYS STAY TUNED//////INDYY…..
I agree with you and with what Matt said earlier about the West wind. That should help bring the SNOW bands farther inland and I think the wind may shift a little bit more to the WSW which would bring the snow up to Northern Kent County for a change! Bring it on. Get ready to ROCK n ROLL!!
Another “3 DOG NIGHT” COMING!!!! HEY ‘WOLFMAN’ JACK:CUE OZZY HOWL@MOON…..!!!!!!
Irish, Lol, You Barking ( pun intended ) Out The Wrong TITLE….
Bark, Bark, SPIN : Ozzy Osbourne – Bark at the moon (Studio version ) with lyrics …
► 4:20► 4:20
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5aKcovQ9A8. Wolf man …Loves ya BABY’S ,Party On…..
Team Rocky-INDY shake the blog love it! GET YOUR MOJO GOING!
Que it up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqWKXUFerKs
More SNOW, COLD and SNOW on the the way! I love it!! Keep it coming for the next 6 weeks!!!!!
Advisory extended again. Now saying 2-5″ tonight and 2-5″ tomorrow.
Sounds GREAT!! Keep it coming. Bring those bands all the way into Eastern Kent county!!
We shall see, sun and nothing happening at all. My birds have been hunkered down the last 2 days, just water buckets to drink from however freezes up quickly, 2 heat lamps in their pens but does nothing for the water from freezing, only their body if they lay under them. Poor babies! Remember to give shelter to your outdoor animals, keep warm water going for dogs that live outdoors which sadly shouldn’t be in this kind of weather, ect. Extra blankets or straw in their dog houses, even perhaps a blanket covering the opening. And don’t forget about our wild feather friends and animals.
Swatz…..what about a heated waterer from Tractor Supply or similar ? Keeps my hens happy and it works well…
I’ve heard good and bad things about those Paul, plus my geese are massive mouthers they are so inquisitive about things they have to touchy feely with their mouths so I’m not sure about the cords.
My Squirrels aint been @ the feeders last two days now, they must be hunkerd down in there nest riding it out ?
Ditto !!!
Today I had squirrel galore out on my deck but I’ve had sun to give them warmth to bask while eating but if the LE ever arrives in my neck of the woods than they might not be out, my poor flock have been hunkering down for 2 days poor things doesn’t take them but an instant to hit that snow hunker down pull their feet up and if they get up some our limping and they go back to the enclosure. My geese, well they are spoiled.
Area Forecast Discussion, 4 pm package
.SHORT TERM…(THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT)
ISSUED AT 351 PM EST TUE JAN 22 2013
MORE HEADLINE ADJUSTMENTS ARE BEING MADE:
FIRST… EXTENDED THE CURRENT L.E.S. ADVISORY THROUGH 7 PM WEDNESDAY
AS THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THINGS WILL DIMINISH UNTIL
WEDNESDAY NIGHT. IN FACT WOULD EXPECT TO SEE AN INCREASE IN
ACCUMULATION POTENTIAL LATER TONIGHT AND ON WEDNESDAY WITH THE AIR
MASS WARMING SLIGHTLY AND MORE FAVORABLE CLOUD MICROPHYSICS
DEVELOPING. THE DGZ ON WEDNESDAY IS SHOWN TO BE BETWEEN 1K AND 4K
FEET… WITH PLENTY OF LIFT… DEEPER MOISTURE AND INVERSION HEIGHTS
RISING TO 10K FT. THE FLOW HAS BACKED A BIT MORE WESTERLY THIS
AFTERNOON AND THE MEAN FLOW THROUGH WEDNESDAY SHOULD BE FROM ABOUT
280 DEGREES. WILL GO WITH 2 TO 5 INCH ACCUMS FOR BOTH TONIGHT AND
WEDNESDAY. HIGHEST AMOUNTS STILL IN SRN MKG… OTTAWA…ALLEGAN…
AND VAN BUREN.
SECOND… ISSUED A WIND CHILL ADVISORY AGAIN FOR TONIGHT FOR INLAND
AREAS… NORTH OF I-96. THIS IS WHERE COLDEST TEMPS ARE FORECAST
AWAY FROM THE LK MI INFLUENCE AND APPARENT TEMPS FALL TO AROUND THE
-15F CRITERIA TONIGHT INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY.
FINALLY… HAVE ISSUED A NEW LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY FOR JACKSON..
EATON AND INGHAM COUNTIES FOR WEDNESDAY BUT NOT INCLUDING TONIGHT.
GUIDANCE STRONGLY SUGGESTS AN EXPANDING… POTENTIALLY INTENSE…
I-94 CONVERGENCE BAND FROM 15Z-24Z WEDNESDAY. DECIDED TO TAKE THE
LEAP NOW… TO PROVIDE HEADS UP TO THE LAN/JXN AREAS FOR REDUCED
VSBYS AND SLICK TRAVEL WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
WINDS GO NORTHERLY THEN OFFSHORE LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY.
THIS SCENARIO LOOKS HIGHLY CONDUCIVE TO MESO LOW DEVELOPMENT OVER LK
MI DUE TO LAND BREEZE CONVERGENCE AS SKIES CLEAR. WHATEVER MESO
FEATURES DEVELOP WILL NEED TO BE MONITORED SINCE THE FLOW GOES SOUTH
THEN SOUTHWEST IN LATER PERIODS… AND COULD LEAD TO A SIGNIFICANT
EVENT FOR MKG AND LDM THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY.
FANTASTIC! More COLD and SNOW. Ya baby!!
And to think of all the naysayers who were saying GR would be lucky to pick up an inch or two of snow from Sunday through Wednesday and that the lake shore would not see much more than 6 inches total. The naysayers were wrong again! Gotta love the COLD and SNOW!
They didn’t mention anything about Kent County, so we will be in that 2-5 inch range correct? Probably on the lower end?
Yes, Kent county will be on the lower end however those of you in the South and Southwest suburbs are looking good!!
Depends where. Jenision and Byron Center may pick up 4+ while Rockford may pick up less than an inch. In between, it’s all complicated!
100% agreed!
Right! I wonder how much more snow I’ll get in Kentwood…
We haven’t had much in SE GR over the past few days.
definitely more lake effect over the next several days, & that synoptic snow later Thursday & Friday. Hopefully that storm for early next week that the EURO & GFS are advertising can take a little bit more of a southerly track and we end up with more snow & frozen precip rather than rain. Seems to be more cold air & maybe more lake effect behind that then, even though I know that’s about a week out yet.
Forget the rain. If we do see any rain it will be very light and short lived and then more COLD and SNOW after that.
Ok, I highly doubt Grand Rapids will see 4-10 inches of snow! What is the NWS thinking?
Parts of Kent county will pick up at least 4 inches of SNOW in the next 24 hours!
Yes, SW Kent! Not GR
If any part of the county reaches the advisory criteria levels the entire county is placed in the advisory.
Yeah, parking lot on the corner of Byron Center and 56th could get 4. As to the remaining 99.9998% of the county …
Approximately 50% of Kent county will be seeing some nice accumulating snows in the next 24 hours! Get used to it!
AGain I”ll believe the LE Snow Advisory when it happens in my area, we were shafted up in Cedar yesterday but with my boys going to ChandlerWoods in Rockford they called school off so I wonder if tomorrow will be the same especially if LE hits more that area than up here. Oh well, what will be will be.
Got 8″ on the ground up here going to get another 4″ tonight and another 4″ tomorrow!! 16″ total…..LET IT SNOW!!! R U READY INDYY!!!???
A multi-day LES event, just as predicted by Bill and the NWS. Nice work.
Im curious why there’s a lake effect snow advisory for kent and barry counties when they aren’t even getting any snow?
The counties are wide. The Western parts of these counties ARE getting snow.
For SW Kent Co (they’ve had 8″ in SW Grandville and Terri DeBoer had over 6″ in Byron Center) and western Barry Co. (where they have also had around 6″ of snow. The Advisory is also for the impact of the event and we have had some very slippery roads.
The coldest recent daytime high I can remember was Super Bowl Sunday 2007, when the Colts beat my Bears
. I believe highs struggled to around +5 that day. It’s crisp out there!
Skilling: This AM’s sub-0 lows at ORD/MDW ended longest streak free of 0-deg temps in 59 years. Chi had gone 711 days without an ofic’l sub-0 temp!
Wonder if GR can claim a similar record.
The last below zero in G.R. before this morning was -9 on 1/23/11. We have at least a chance at getting to zero tonight and tomorrow night.
May be because of station siting at the airport.
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/01/20/noaa-establishes-a-fact-about-station-siting-nighttime-temperatures-are-indeed-higher-closer-to-the-laboratory/
Chicago’s official weather station is at O’Hare Airport. The 3-letter code for O’Hare is ORD. ORD stands for orchard because the airport was built where there was an orchard. Think about how the temperature at the airport would be warmer today amid the concrete, asphalt, vehicular and plane traffic than back when it was a rural orchard.
Below normal temps for the better part of a week. Is this the “new normal “?
Left for work well before sunrise and the clouds were thinning and if was -3…..bottom fell out at sunrise and my better half said both thermometers showed -9….neighbor was -10….
Nowhere near as cold as growing up in Wisconsin though in the ’70′s.
Has anyone else noticed the change in the lake effect bands? Up until this evening they were going from a NW to SE direction, now they have shifted to a W to E direction. This allows for “training” of lake effect snow when the bands line up. My drive back from college was exactly like it was when I left. Sunny in Kalamazoo County, and snowing hard in Martin.
18Z GFS never takes our 850mb temps up above freezing next week, and has another blast of air as cold as this to kick off February.
I was going to say that this pattern is just like last winter (I’ve heard that a time or two) but IT’S NOT.
Checked accuweather site for temps last January for my area. 14 times above 40, 2 times 50 or higher. This month so far, 40 or higher 3 times, none over 50. Yes the pattern is different this time around.
Oh, just one day in the teens, nothing close to bitter cold like we have now.
Exactly and this is why there will be NO RAIN! It seems like every few days there are people on here predicting rain in the 7 to 8 range. Forget the rain people we are entrenched in COLD and SNOWY PATTERN
How long will our “Snowy Pattern” last? I’m over it already
Must be going towards a ice age with these record cold temps today being set!
We have 8 inches on the ground as of 6 p.m. Tuesday in Northwest Hudsonville (near 48th and Port Sheldon) and it’s coming down heavy currently.
Are we gonna have a snow day tomorrow? The roads are horrible and the salt isn’t working in this temp?
No one can accurately answer that question without knowing your location!
This is kind of a question that you answered yourself by giving a statement and then ended with a new question.
Nobody knows, DJ. however, if we are getting whiteouts during morning rush hour it is very possible that schools could be cancelled.
My location is Zeeland.
Zeeland has a very good chance of a SNOW day. I would say about a 60% chance!
Yeah, with west winds…you should be good.
being that conditions look to be pretty much the same as this morning (I think the cold had to do with a lot of closings too) I would agree at 60% chance.
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/images/grr/NDFD_StateScaleSnowForecast_20130122_2105_UTC_LocalTime.png
Based on this map from the national weather service of additional snow fall from now until 7 pm tomorrow, a large portion of the area is in the 10-12 inch range. Why are we in a advisory? Shouldn’t this be a Warning?
I thought the same thing earlier today. Instead of issuing a warning, they have just split the time up and issued a whole bunch of advisories for shorter amounts of time. That way they can cover their butts more easily.
Two half day advisories =one full day warning.
YES – Ottawa and Allegan counties should have been in a lake effect snow warning since SUNDAY!
18z gfs handles the lake effect quite differently than the nam. Nam keeps it going through tomorrow….gfs ends it for quite awhile late tonight, then starts it up again…but only gives us about 1-4″
I don’t think the GFS does well with lake effect. The NAM picks upon convective type events better.
OHHHHH BABY CLINT in ROTHBARRY GET OUTSIDE AND ENJOY THE SNOW MY FRIEND WE HAVE PLENTY OF IT COMING WINTER STORM WATCHES A COMING FOR THUR,FRI AND MAYBE BLIZZARD BILL ON TUESDAY …THEE MAN CAVE IS FULL AND READY TO GO FRESH HERB PILLS AND MUCH MUCH MORE OUT THEE YARDofBRICKS LOACKnLOAD INDYY MODE STAY TUNED ……INDYY…..
I wonder when we will actually see our first Winter Storm Warning?
It’s time!!! ROCKYROCKFORD is ready!!! INDYY///
Are u on Bills blog page on facebook ROCKYFORD???? INDYY..
So far I guess I’m owing you some “Sprites” huh Indy? However still nothing up here, ROcky might say Kent 50/50, I’ll be the 50% that won’t see anything like I haven’t already for 2 days.
WEEK of 2/4/13… Bank on it ROCKY!!
If that actually happens I will have a new found respect for the ever popular JEM model! I am ready. BRING IT ON!
How more snow do you guys think the zeeland and holland area will get?
much more*
Does anyone know how much snow they got around Hoffmaster State Park? I am thinking about heading over there to go cross country skiing. Does anyone have a rough estimate? Thanks.
Hey, Scott. Plenty for skiing! The area has gotten between 6 and 10 inches of snow. I LOVE Hoffmaster. I only live 5 to 10 minutes away and spend lots of time there. Truly a quiet treasure.
Thanks I really appreciate that information and yes Hoffmaster is a great place especially in the winter!
No biting insects!
Hey uncle Jack U have facebook??? INDYY
Yup !
I’m getting 1/2 inch per hour up here in the heavier snow bands!! Snowing moderately to heavy right now!! I’M READY INDYY!!! BRING ON THE SNOW!!!
I read on noaa 5 inches tonight and 4 inches tomorrow zeeland,mi near holland. Bring on the snow!!
Swatzzee I am ready for a sprite lets go sleding this week’nd we are ready!! I really think Im the one owing u some apple snoffs!!!! INDYY..
LetS cal it even my friend and we both swap our drinks, Green Apple Smirnoff for me, your “Sprites” for you!
You called it for your end, I called it for my end. You got it, I didn’t.
I hope zeeland public schools are closed tomorrow…
Hey uncle Jack u the pitcher guy on Bills blogg page???? We are friends on facebook then!! INDYY…
Nope, I’m Incognito… Indy…
P.S. Indy, I have Been Told for Years , That I Have A FACE for RADIO… Lol…
LOL I asked Jack Martin the same thing when I friended him too if he was the Jack here who would call me “Bubbles”, “Champagne Bubbles”, LOL!!
For Real Swatzoo, That’s Hilarious !!!
. Maybe that’s Why u haven’t been getting LES in Cedar !!! “BUBBLES”. 
ROFL, so true so very true!! It’s funny because it looks like a bubble, North of me dark clouds, south of me dark clouds, over me, blue sunny sky AKA “The Bubble”
I am starting to think RockRockford is a computer !!!! INDYY..
Hey INDY, I am not the computer, however I have access to one of the best winter computer models around. The RDB model ROCKS! If you combine that with the IWS you can not go wrong
U got it!! INDYY
Oh your ucky sparkee is cold! I can’t seem to get your ol aunty Edna to fetch more wood. Tokes my faithful blood hound is hunkering down. We got plenty of wood smoke and booze to get thru the cold blast. Rabbit huntin and ice fishin tomorrow! You big city hobos will probly be drinking your Carmel mocha fn Lottie’s while your ol uncle sparks is fetching lunch for your ol aunty Edna.
Hey Sparks newphew INDY here u guys have lots of snow on the ground ???? I hear the lakes are about 4-6 inches of ice I am packing up for Hardball Bowl and moving in for the week’nd me and Rocky so I can go Ice fishing !!! Don’t clip them plants just yet uncle sparks and tell anty Edna to hit road when I come up u know how we dont get along I am sick of her long hair we find in our food all time!! I sent u some e mail today about our week’nd check it!! See u soon!!!! INDYY..
Don’t worry about your ol aunty Edna, she got herself a reeel nice perminent. And she got a nice color. Kind of blueish grey, looks reeel pretty.
U.Sparkeee is this anuntieee EDNA ??? http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lq24m9fLil1qjclgso1_500.jpg. NICE new DEW !!!
Indy This You ??? http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/airline-business/Weed%20guy.jpg.
As the GRR discussion discusses a possible Mesolow on Friday, particularly for the Muskegon and Ludington areas, we might not have much school. This week! That is an IF it happens…
I dont have school Friday anyways.
Bring it on. The MORE COLD and SNOW the better!! I love it!
Again if everything stays south of Cedar nothing but the same here.
We have been under a strong snow band since about 5pm. Flakes are much larger. Wind not as strong as yesterday.
I jinxed it…it moved south.
It moved to East Saugatuck Jim. Can’t even see the neighbors house (for the moment)
I’m sure that you’ll get it back in a few minutes!
GO WINGS!
Yup, Plus THANK- You !!! THOMAS HOLSTROM !!!!!
Uncle Jack lololo nice pic!! GO WINGS!! INDYY…
BILL S…. This Thread Still Reads …SUNSET 8:06 am. I’m reading it WRONG, or Something .? Just Looking out for Ya…. Storm team 8…. Rules!!!!