4/30/12

April Colder Than March...A Very Rare Bird Indeed!

I could find only one year when looking back into monthly records at Detroit (back to 1870) where March was warmer than April and that was over a century ago, back in 1907! While the official data sample is shorter at Flint, unofficially March of 1907 was warmer than April there too. At Saginaw however; it has never happened, looking back to 1900 at the monthly means! Oh, it did come close with March 1907 just 0.7 of a degree lower than April 1907 but still; no cigar. 

STATION                    March 1907            April 1907           March 2012           April 2012
DETROIT
39.2
39.1
50.7
49.4
FLINT
37.5
36.3
49.5
47.3
SAGINAW
37.0
37.8
48.0
46.9
SE MICH
37.9
37.7
49.4
47.9

The normal or average temperature for April at Detroit is 49.2; while Flint and Saginaw average temperatures are duplicates with 46.1 degrees.

What is even more outstanding this time; it is by a much larger margin than in 1907 at Detroit! Looking back at 1907, the temperature difference was just a tiny 0.1 degree; so pretty much duplicate temperature months and "non-detectable". However; this past March's and April's temperature difference is more to crow about! When looking at the temperature chart for the two years; Detroit's average temperature difference between March and April amounts to 1.3 degrees as opposed to the miniscule .1 of a degree in 1907. Over at Flint; the difference between March's 2012 average temperature and April's comes in comfortably over two degrees with a difference of 2.2! In Saginaw, the difference between March's and April's temperatures amounts to 1.1 degrees. And lastly; across all of Southeast Lower Michigan between March and April 2012 average temperatures, the difference amounts to 1.5 degrees with March averaging 49.4 as opposed to April's 47.9.

Another notable standout in Southeast Lower Michigan between the two time periods -1907 and 2012 -  are the temperatures themselves! Even though March of 1907 was indeed warmer (and above average) across Southeast Lower Michigan it was rather weakly (when compared to this year) with just 37.9 degrees. The average temperature this March was close to an incredible 50 degrees with 49.4! Looking ahead into April; April of 1907 was down right cold with a stinkin' average temperature of just 37.7 degrees or nearly ten degrees below the normal of 47.1 across all of Southeast Lower Michigan. With the average temperature of  just 39.1 at Detroit, April of 1907 was the second coldest April on record. It was the coldest April on record at Saginaw with the average temperature of  37.8 and unofficially at Flint; April 1907 was also the coldest with a pitiful average temperature of just 36.3! Even though this April was cooler than March; you had much more room to work with; with that near 50 degree average of March! April's average temperature across the region is 47.9 just a smidgin above normal; but still ABOVE normal compared to the well below normal of April of 1907.













4/25/12

Think It's Too Late To Have a Snowstorm in Southeast Lower Michigan; Think Again!

                   Southeast Lower Michigan Snowstorm of May 9th, 1923  

Not since records have been kept in Southeast Lower Michigan (Detroit as far back as 1870), has the snowstorm of May 9th in 1923 been equaled in season lateness and magnitude.

 

A strong cold front, of Arctic origin, pushed across Southeast Michigan on the afternoon of the 8th, creating scattered thunderstorms. The strength of the front was quite evident in Detroit. The temperature plummeted from a near normal reading of 62 degrees at 100 pm to a winter like one of 34 degrees by 600 pm. Behind the front, the stage was set for some startling weather developments for the month of May...even in Southeast Lower Michigan. Rain mixed with snow fell across the area during the evening of the 8th. Detroit received an estimated inch of snow which melted on the ground before ending by midnight. On the morning of the 9th, a low pressure area developed along the front in northwest Ohio and moved over Lake Erie during the afternoon. The developing low pulled warmer, moist air north from the Ohio Valley and mixed with the unseasonably cold air mass over Southeast Lower Michigan.   As a result, a heavy, wet snow began falling during the forenoon hours and continued through the afternoon.

 

Arguably, one of the most astonishing things (and there were several) about the mid-spring snowstorm was that the bulk of the snow fell during the time of day which is normally considered "the heat of the day" or "afternoon heating" when normal highs of the day are attained. The afternoon temperatures never budged from the lower 30s (31-33) and was accompanied by a stiff northwest wind, averaging 15 to 25 mph. Keep in mind, the normal or average high for May 9th is 67...some 35 degrees warmer! The snow ended by the evening in Detroit and at 800 pm, six inches was reported on the ground. The story was even more fantastic as one traveled west and north of Detroit across Southeast Lower Michigan. Generally, six to nine inches fell west to the Ann Arbor area, northwest through Howell, north across Pontiac and northeast up to Port Huron. Even more incredible, snow depths of around a foot were reported at Flint and Lansing north into the Saginaw Valley. Widespread damage was reported to trees, power lines (many had a two inch circumference of snow hanging on them) and telephone poles, especially in the Saginaw Valley. Even so, economic damage was surprisingly small, especially to spring vegetation. Evidently, the earlier spring weather had been abnormally cold and this led to a late green up. Substantial damage from the cold to vegetation and crops was actually averted due to the insulation affect of the heavy, wet snow. 

 

Many May snow records (amounts and lateness in the season) were shattered and stand firm to this day over Southeast Lower Michigan. By the next morning (10th), much of the snow had melted and by the evening, it was just a memory. The official high in Detroit on the 9th was 39, but that occurred just after midnight, before the storm. The low was 31, which occurred in the afternoon during the storm, giving a mean of 35 for the day and 21 degrees below the normal of 56. Other May record snowfalls in Detroit pale in comparison. In 1912, 1.5 inches fell on May 13th for the second highest amount and the latest snow actually occurred the last day of the month, May 31st, 1910 with a trace. So, the next time you think it's too cold for this late in spring or we can't possibly have a measurable snowfall in late April or May across Southeast Lower Michigan, you might want to THINK about it again (or maybe not). 

 

Making weather fun while we all learn, Bill Deedler -SEMI_WeatherHistorian

4/21/12

A Relatively Cool Week On Tap For Late April Over Southeast Lower Michigan

Look for temperatures to average 5 to 10 degrees below normal over Southeast Lower Michigan through much of the week. On average, late April should bring us high temperatures in the lower to mid 60s; while lows fall into the lower to mid 40s.

First up on our weather agenda: a strong low pressure system will rev-up over the East; then pivot somewhat north-northwest toward eastern Great Lakes region - in the vicinity of Lake Ontario - by Tuesday morning. 

                                                 500 MB JET STREAM - 8AM EDT TUE 4/24           

                                                  SURFACE MAP - 8AM EDT TUE 4/24
 
Southeast Lower Michigan will be on the western fringe of this large storm center as it draws down cold polar air into the Eastern Great Lakes. The air should be cold enough for snow over portions of Ontario; southward into western New York and Pennsylvania along with eastern Ohio early in the work week. In our neck of the woods, the main effects from the system will be a brisk and gusty north wind and cool temperatures; along with varying amounts of cloud cover There is the outside chance of some light showers Tuesday as the large storm skirts the region; pushing its way north into eastern Canada. Temperatures into mid week will generally see highs rise into the 50s with lows in the 30s. Wednesday looks to be our warmest day at this time with readings attempting the lower 60s.

While the briefly warmer weather will return to the region by mid week it will be short lived as another re-enforcement of cold air; dives quickly southeast from southern Canada and surges across the Great Lakes later Wednesday into Thursday. Cool, below normal temperatures will continue to prevail into the weekend.

Making weather fun while we all learn,
Bill Deedler -SEMI_WeatherHistorian

4/6/12

Mom Nature Giveth and Taketh Away; March's Typical Weather Will Come for a Visit In April /Update - 4/10/2012/

JUST A QUICK UPDATE TUE 4/10:
Outlook for this week looks very good with cool April conditions holding through Friday morning with the risk of frost and/or freezes through that time period as temperatures drop into the mid 20s to mid 30s. Daytime high temperatures will recover first from today's coldest of weather with more abundant April sunshine expected Wednesday through Friday. Highs will push back up closer to normal; into the 50s to around 60, Wednesday into Friday. Look for warmer weather over the weekend but with the risk of showers and thunderstorms. Normal or average highs for the second week of April run from the mid 50s to around 60; while lows dip into the mid 30s to lower 40s.


Original Blog 4/6/12
After weeks of unseasonably warm, sometimes summer-like weather in mid to late March; April's weather has been (and will continue to be) a bit more fickle.  An upper wind pattern change expected to commence after Easter will bring a longer below normal temperature pattern to the Great Lakes and Southeast Lower Michigan.

While much of the country was enjoying that taste of late spring and summer weather in March; mother nature was busy recharging the Polar Regions with some late season blasts of cold air. In other words; the freezer door on the proverbial meteorological freezer is again, about to be opened! All model indications point to a rather robust Arctic to Great Lakes region jet stream trajectory during the second week of April. In addition, these latest upper wind pattern projections show a very broad and potent cold air mass diving along for the ride.

                                        500 MB /18k - ft/  Jet - Tuesday Morning 4/10/2012
                                   
                                      850 MB /5k-ft/  Jet/Temps- Tuesday Morning 4/10/2012

As with this past week, the risk of frost and freezes will be with us during portions of the upcoming week along with even the possibility some rain and snow showers or flurries. While temperatures will average below normal during the week; this is not extraordinarily atypical for this time of year - like March's heat proved to be. It was this summer-like heat that was responsible for bringing out the vegetation at such a rapid pace. That early warmth is mainly responsible for initiating these colder late March and April morning headaches. All nursery and gardener interests should keep abreast of local temperature forecasts in the the near future.  

Making weather fun while we all learn,
Bill Deedler -SEMI_WeatherHistorian


4/3/12

PALM SUNDAY TORNADO OUTBREAK OF 1965 INCLUDING THE SUPER OUTBREAK OF 1974

As we get ready to celebrate Easter and Passover this year; many meteorologists and severe weather buffs will also recall two of the worst tornado outbreaks ever to affect the southern Great Lakes and the Ohio/Tennessee Valleys in early April.

 

In the Palm Sunday Outbreak 1965, even though just a child, I recall that the afternoon and evening's violent display of weather; once again sparked my interest in weather while riding back in the car from my grandparents in Marine City (along the St. Clair River). The churning, violent sky gave birth to vivid lightning as it cascaded across the sky. I remember my dad trying to tune into the AM radio stations to little avail as static from continuous strikes of lightning plagued the airways. Little did I know, decades later I would write about that terrible outbreak while in the NWS. 

 

In addition, I included the Super Outbreak of 1974 (anniversary today; April 3) written by NOAA/NWS in that Palm Sunday Outbreak 1965 article (see below).  I remember the 1974 Outbreak much more vividly as I was in my first year with the NWS. Fortunately for us; Southeast Michigan was on the extreme northern fringe of that terrible Outbreak. Up until last year, it was known as the worst tornado outbreak ever to hit the country.

 

PALM SUNDAY TORNADO OUTBREAK
APRIL 11TH, 1965

Written by: William R. Deedler, Weather Historian
National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac, MI
March, 2005 
 
The Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak occurred on April 11th, 1965 with the violent storms tearing through much of the Southern Great Lakes Region and Northern Ohio Valley. The worst hit states were Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. It is the second biggest tornado outbreak on record; 47 confirmed tornadoes resulted in 271 people killed and 3,400 people injured in just a twelve hour span. Damages from the storms mounted to more than 200 million dollars (1.1 billion/2003 dollars). Only the "Super Outbreak" of April 3rd, 1974 was worse. This write-up is mainly from a Southeast Lower Michigan perspective with some data taken directly from the NWS Storm Data files.

COLD MARCH LION PROCEEDS PALM SUNDAY STORMS

March of 1965 had been a cold and stormy spring month (several degrees below normal, ranking in the top twenty listings for coldest and snowiest Marches at some locations) in Southeast Lower Michigan with several rounds of heavy rain and snow which lasted into early April. There really had been no surge of warm spring weather to speak of that year until the first week of April, the week which preceded the second biggest tornado outbreak in recorded history. During that first week of April, temperatures surged quickly up to near 70 degrees on the 6th but then, just as quickly, they were knocked back down into the 40s again by yet another chilly air mass on the 8th. Palm Sunday weekend (10-11th) started out calm enough with temperatures actually rising up to near normal levels (mid 50s) under partly sunny skies on Saturday. Many meteorologist eyes, however, were focused on the strong mid and upper level jet stream surging across the Southern Plains into the Midwest later Saturday. In retrospect, this was the harbinger of the rough times that lay ahead, the vicious Palm Sunday Tornado outbreak.

PALM SUNDAY

500 MB chart from 7 am EST, April 11, 1965; click on image to enlarge The strong jet core extended throughout all levels of the atmosphere as of Palm Sunday morning. At 850 MB (5000 FT), a 50 to 60 knot west southwest wind could be found over the Southern Plains moving through Kansas into Missouri, while at the 700 MB (10,000 FT) level, a 70 knot wind maximum was surging northeast across the Texas Panhandle into Oklahoma. Higher up, from the 500 MB to 300 MB (18,000 - 30,000 FT) layer, incredibly strong maximum winds of 120-150 knots extended from the Desert Southwest into the Southern Plains.
Surface chart from 7 am EST, April 11, 1965; click on image to enlarge At the same time, and in response to the strengthening upper level winds, a deepening surface low pressure system was taking shape over the Midwest. This intensifying low pressure, central pressure at 990 MB (or about 29.20") moved east northeast into Iowa by the forenoon hours of Palm Sunday. Its attending warm front surged northward into Southern Indiana and Ohio, while the 850 MB warm front pushed north into Southern Lower Michigan.

As this warmer, more unstable air aloft approached Southern Lower Michigan, scattered thunderstorms were triggered during the pre-dawn hours. A thunderstorm was ongoing at both Detroit City and Metropolitan airports as of the 400 AM EST observation (Detroit City Airport was the official climate observing site for Detroit at the time and this was transferred to Metro Airport just a year later in April 1966).
500 MB chart from 7 pm EST, April 11, 1965; click on image to enlarge Temperatures climbed up through the 40s over Southern Lower Michigan during the forenoon hours of Sunday, while behind the warm front (along the Ohio River), readings rose into the mid 70s and were accompanied by dew points in the lower to mid 60s. Early in the day, the surface warm front surged rapidly northeast, aided by the strong south winds of 20 to 30 mph at the surface (and as mentioned earlier, much stronger aloft). During the early afternoon hours, the warm front pushed northeast into extreme Southeast Lower Michigan. With the passage of the front, skies broke out which allowed some sunshine to aid in raising the temperatures into the mid 60s to lower 70s by mid afternoon. Dew points followed right along for the ride, rising from the lower 40s early in the day, to the lower 60s by mid afternoon. This helped set the stage for the violent weather that was to explode shortly over the Lower Great Lakes and Northern Ohio Valley.
Map of tornado tracks; click on image to enlarge
The deepening low pressure system and attending fronts began spawning severe thunderstorms and tornadoes over Eastern Iowa, Extreme Southern Wisconsin and Extreme Northern Illinois early that Palm Sunday afternoon. Along with numerous severe thunderstorms, up to 13 major tornadoes swirled violently through that region. As the low pressure center pushed east northeast across Central Wisconsin, the strong jet core of upper winds began to surge northeast into the Lower Great Lakes Region. Severe thunderstorms blossomed out ahead of the swiftly moving cold front, which extended in an arc from the greater Chicago area south southeast across extreme western Indiana along the instability axis. The first tornadoes spawned in the tri-state area (Michigan-Indiana-Ohio) developed quickly and in rapid succession over Extreme Northern Indiana (see map of tornado tracks) starting 545 PM EST, then 613 PM, 618 PM, another at 625 PM and on and on.

It was also just about this time that severe thunderstorms moved onshore into Western Lower Michigan from Lake Michigan. The storms extended from Muskegon southward to the Holland area. At 630 PM EST, one tornado (F3) touched down in Kalamazoo County, while another tornado (F4) developed at 650 PM EST and moved across Ottawa and Kent counties. Still, another complex of severe storms ignited more strong tornadoes over Central Indiana, starting just after 6 PM EST.

CLOSER TO HOME: TERRIBLE TWOS

Detroit Radar showed a rapid increase in thunderstorms over West Central and Southwest Lower Michigan and Northern Indiana by late afternoon. Storm movement was pegged east northeast at around 70 mph! As these storms roared into South-Central Lower Michigan, two horrible twisters were spawned over Branch County, one at East Gilead at 715 PM EST and the other, just a half hour later, southwest of Kinderhook (or, nearly in the same spot as the first). The first tornado seemed to be the most intense and may have caused the most deaths. After striking East Gilead, the storm tracked across Coldwater Lake and damaged several homes along its path. It was about this time (1/2 hour later) that the second twister took off, also plowing across Branch County in nearly the same path as the first. Branch County was hardest hit with at least 19 people killed and about 200 injured, with just under 200 homes destroyed and $20 million (113 million/2003 dollars) in damages.

The tornadoes then sped quickly across Hillsdale County, both tracking just south of the town of Hillsdale. So identical where the tornado paths at this point, that the second tornado actually leveled much of the remaining standing parts of homes hit by the first tornado! At least 11 people were killed in Hillsdale County by these storms along with at least $7 million (39.7 million/2003 dollars) in damages, including the 177 homes leveled. As the tornadoes crossed into Lenawee County, about 100 vacation homes (cottages) were torn apart on Devil's Lake at Manitou Beach but fortunately, being early April, most were vacant at the time. However, just south of Manitou Beach, the Manitou Beach Baptist Church was destroyed, burying 26 people alive under its debris. Miraculously, only one man died later from his injuries sustained at the church. Five miles south of Manitou Beach, a family in a home did not fare as well with six members of the family perishing in the storm!
Wind gusts recorded in Tecumseh, MI; click on image to enlarge
The damage path from these terrible two tornadoes extended at one point up to four miles wide, though some of this damage might well have been also due to straight line winds. At least 14 people were killed in Lenawee County with damages amounting to $5 million (28 million/2003 dollars) and 189 homes destroyed. In the four counties, 44 people were killed along with 612 injured with property damages amounting to around $32 million (181 million/2003 dollars). These tornadoes were ranked an F4 on the Fujita Scale and their total paths were about 90 miles long. The tornadoes dissipated over extreme Northern Monroe County east of Milan. During these two monsters lives, over a thousand (1026) buildings were damaged along with countless vehicles (cars, trucks, boats, etc). With all the destruction that these two tornadoes brought to the area, we were fortunate to capture the wind gusts on a rather resilient wind gust recorder at Tecumseh in Lenawee County. 

Another F4 tornado touched down at 815 PM EST and roared across Clinton County into Shiawassee. The path of this tornado was about 20 miles long at extended from just south of Dewitt (in Southern Clinton County), east northeast to Bennington (or just southwest of Owosso). A nine-year old girl was killed and six homes were destroyed in Clinton County, while three more homes were destroyed in Shiawassee County.

As 9 PM EST approached, two weaker F2 tornadoes appeared farther north in Bay and Tuscola counties. One tornado touched down at 850 PM EST in Bay County at Portsmouth Township and tore the roofs off some buildings and destroyed a few barns and trailers before moving out over Saginaw Bay. At 9 PM EST, another F2 tornado dropped down out of the sky over Tuscola County; it then moved east northeast for 10 miles ending at the town of Unionville. Some barns and a lumberyard were demolished along the ten mile path. There were no deaths and only two injuries with these two tornadoes.

A final tornado (another killer F4) touched down near the Michigan/Ohio State line (mainly on the north side of Toledo) at approximately 930 PM EST. The storm tracked east northeast and caught the extreme southeast tip of Monroe County. The worst damage from this tornado occurred on the north side of Toledo with 16 people killed in Ohio and two in Michigan. About 50 homes were destroyed along with a bus that was picked up and slammed down on I-75, killing four people. Damages with this tornado amounted to around $25 million (141 million/2003 dollars).

Much of the Detroit Metro Area observed strong to severe thunderstorms with very heavy rainfall as the intense low pressure system and strong cold front surged through Lower Michigan that night. Both Detroit City and Metropolitan Airports received about 1.5 inches of rain, whereas Flint measured just a quarter of an inch (.25). As the system moved into Canada, it put an end to the severe weather (well, almost). Very strong isobaric winds encompassed the region behind the storm center on Monday morning, the 12th, with Detroit City Airport (which at that time, housed the wind gust equipment) clocking a west northwest wind gust at 55 mph!

Making weather fun while we all learn,
Bill Deedler -SEMI_WeatherHistorian


4/2/12

Unprecedented Warm March Blows Several Records Away!

Never in modern climate record keeping had there been a March like this past March for warmth across Southeast Lower Michigan. All three cities (Detroit, Flint and Saginaw) blew away their previous warmest March records by about three degrees! Detroit left it's old record warm March's /1945/ average temperature /47.9/ in the dust by nearly three degrees /+2.8/, while Flint surpassed it's old record March /1945/ temperature /46.0/ by an even wider margin with 3.5 degrees! Saginaw was just a tenth shy of the 3.0 degree exceedance with +2.9 degrees above the old record of 45.1, also in 1945 (see more on March of 1945 from a write up I did back in 1997; including a rather interesting but depressing account of the weather that followed that spring and beyond across the central and northeast portion of the country).

From the climate records at the NWS in White Lake /DTX/:

Top Ten Warmest Marchs


DTW
FNT
MBS
1.    50.7    (2012)
1.    49.5    (2012)
1.    48.0    (2012)
2.    47.9    (1945)
2.    46.0    (1945)
2.    45.1    (1945)
3.    46.1    (1946)
3.    44.6    (1946)
3.    44.0    (1910)
4.    44.0    (2000)
4.    41.4    (1929)
4.    42.0    (1938)
4.    44.0    (1910)
5.    41.3    (2000)
5.    41.9    (1946)
6.    43.3    (1973)
5.    41.3    (1973)
6.    41.4    (2000)
7.    42.5    (1921)
7.    40.8    (1938)
7.    40.7    (1977)
8.    42.4    (2010)
8.    40.4    (1935)
8.    40.6    (1903)
9.    41.6    (1938)
9.    40.1    (1936)
9.    40.5    (1929)
9.    41.6    (1929)
9.    40.1    (1921)
10.   39.4   (2010)


Number of days in which each of the climate site had high temperatures at/or above 60, 70 and 80 degrees in March:

SITE # Days at or Above 60 # Days at or Above 70 # Days at or above 80
DTW 18 11 3
FNT 18 10 4
MBS 17 10 4


New Daily Records:

March - Detroit Records 1874 - Present
March Normals
(1980-2010)
Maximum Minimum Average Daily
Temperature
Precipitation
Date Max Min Avg Record
High
Lowest
Max
Highest
Min
Record
Low
Highest Lowest Greatest Date
1 40 24 32.0 64/1992 12/1962 47/1882 1/1962 52/1882 7/1962 1.29/2007 1
2 40 24 32.0 63/1991 11/1925 47/1882 -4/1978 55/1882 6/1925 0.82/1976 2
3 40 24 32.0 67/1974 12/1943 42/1974 -4/2003 55/1974 6/1943 1.71/1953 3
4 41 25 33.0 69/1983 16/1895 44/1880 5/1912 55/1983 12/1912 1.18/1895 4
5 41 25 33.0 68/2004 16/1890 49/1894 2/1948 56/1894 11/1890 1.00/2011 5
6 41 25 33.0 67/2009 17/1920 49/2009 2/1901 58/2009 10/1901 0.73/1959 6
7 42 26 34.0 76/2000 16/1920 47/2012 2/1913 58/2012 10/1913 1.06/2009 7
8 42 26 34.0 80/2000 15/1996 56/2000 -1/1943 68/2000 8/1943 0.95/1974 8
9 43 26 34.0 68/1878 20/1937 46/1879 1/1978 56/1879 13/1996 1.20/1998 9
10 43 27 35.0 70/1925 19/1933 44/1878 4/1877 54/1977 13/1877 0.97/2009 10
11 44 27 35.0 72/1977 17/1948 48/1973 7/1960 59/1973 12/1948 0.92/1922 11
12 44 27 36.0 75/1990 16/1896 48/1927 4/1896 59/1990 10/1896 1.13/1877 12
13 44 27 36.0 73/1990 20/1888 57/1990 5/1896 65/1990 13/1896 1.58/1918 13
14 45 28 36.0 77/1990 10/1895 52/1990 2/1895 65/1990 6/1895 1.54/1997 14
15 45 28 37.0 77/2012 17/1893 55/2012 5/1993 66/2012 12/1895 0.93/1912 15
16 46 28 37.0 74/1945 19/1900 56/1945 4/1900 65/1945 12/1900 1.15/1876 16
17 46 29 38.0 75/2012 13/1941 51/1927 -2/1900 62/2012 7/1900 0.97/1973 17
18 47 29 38.0 75/2012 14/1876 51/2012 7/1916 63/2012 10/1876 0.99/1925 18
19 47 30 38.0 76/1921 15/1883 55/1903 4/1885 64/2012 11/1885 0.93/1881 19
20 48 30 39.0 82/2012 11/1885 59/1921 -2/1885 70/2012 4/1885 0.88/1984 20
21 48 30 39.0 84/2012 16/1885 56/2012 -1/1885 70/2012 8/1885 1.03/1994 21
22 48 31 40.0 86/2012 18/1906 55/2012 3/1885 71/2012 11/1885 0.93/1916 22
23 49 31 40.0 73/1994 18/1888 51/1953 2/1888 57/1945 10/1888 0.91/1938 23
24 49 31 40.0 81/1910 16/1888 50/1928 2/1888 61/1928 10/1888 0.96/1947 24
25 50 32 41.0 78/1945 25/1940 51/1963 4/1974 61/1945 17/1974 1.73/1954 25
26 50 32 41.0 81/2007 23/1894 54/2004 11/2001 66/2007 18/1937 1.08/1934 26
27 51 32 42.0 81/2007 27/1955 57/1998 3/1934 68/1998 15/1934 1.35/1880 27
28 51 33 42.0 82/1945 19/1923 59/1910 4/1934 69/1945 15/1923 1.69/1985 28
29 52 33 42.0 78/1986 23/1887 54/1910 7/1887 67/1908 15/1887 0.79/1979 29
30 52 34 43.0 81/1998 29/1969 59/1910 10/1923 67/1998 21/1923 1.76/1922 30
31 53 34 43.0 80/1943 21/1923 60/1998 6/1923 67/1998 14/1923 1.52/1949 31

Normal High: 45.8

Normal HDD: Month: 862

Normal Monthly Precip: 2.28
Normal Low : 28.6 Normal HDD Season: 5405 Normal Yearly Precip: 6.26
Normal Mean: 37.2 Normal CDD: Month: 0 Ave Snow this Month : 6.9
Normal CDD Season: 0 Ave Snow for the Season: 41.0

Precip: Greatest Monthly Total: 5.63/1913

Snow: Greatest Monthly Total: 30.2/1900
Precip: Least Monthly Total: 0.38/1910 Snow: Least Monthly Total: -1.0/1946


March - Flint Records 1921 - Present
March Normals
(1980-2010)
Maximum Minimum Average Daily
Temperature
Precipitation
Date Max Min Avg Record
High
Lowest
Max
Highest
Min
Record
Low
Highest Lowest Greatest Date
1 37 20 28.0 60/1992 9/1962 37/1985 -11/1967 46/1991 2/1962 0.37/2007 1
2 38 20 29.0 58/1964 9/1950 42/2004 -12/1978 47/2004 6/1978 0.71/1948 2
3 38 20 29.0 68/1974 16/1943 46/1974 -11/2003 57/1974 3/2003 1.10/1941 3
4 38 21 30.0 63/1983 15/2002 45/1983 -2/1978 54/1983 9/1978 1.46/1974 4
5 39 21 30.0 66/2004 20/1960 47/1935 -10/1948 55/1935 6/1948 0.71/2011 5
6 39 21 30.0 67/2009 16/2007 50/1983 -7/1960 54/1983 8/1960 0.77/1956 6
7 40 22 31.0 75/2000 13/1986 49/2012 -6/1999 58/2012 6/1986 0.86/2009 7
8 40 22 31.0 80/2000 13/1996 57/2000 -10/1943 69/2000 5/1943 1.26/1942 8
9 40 22 31.0 67/2000 17/2003 41/2006 -5/1978 51/1977 8/2003 0.87/1998 9
10 41 23 32.0 65/1977 18/1933 39/2010 0/1996 51/1977 13/2003 1.03/1992 10
11 41 23 32.0 68/1977 15/1948 49/1973 -7/1960 59/1973 7/1960 0.64/1957 11
12 42 23 32.0 75/1990 22/1992 54/1990 0/1948 65/1990 12/1992 0.74/2012 12
13 42 24 33.0 76/1990 23/1926 59/1990 -4/1960 68/1990 13/1960 0.99/2006 13
14 43 24 33.0 76/2012 19/1993 58/1990 5/1993 67/1990 12/1993 1.01/1973 14
15 43 24 34.0 78/1990 23/1997 58/2012 3/1960 68/2012 16/1992 0.74/1943 15
16 43 25 34.0 75/2012 27/1950 57/1935 6/1992 64/2012 19/1967 1.92/1942 16
17 44 25 34.0 79/2012 20/1967 56/2012 -5/1926 68/2012 14/1967 0.66/1980 17
18 44 25 35.0 75/2012 20/1939 52/2012 3/1959 64/2012 14/1967 0.38/1989 18
19 45 26 35.0 80/2012 19/1939 50/1976 -1/1923 65/2012 14/1949 2.33/1948 19
20 45 26 36.0 84/2012 18/1986 57/2012 2/1923 71/2012 13/1986 0.95/1996 20
21 46 27 36.0 86/2012 21/1965 54/2012 7/1965 70/2012 14/1965 0.92/1972 21
22 46 27 36.0 84/2012 22/1940 57/1938 7/1940 70/1938 15/1940 1.05/2007 22
23 47 27 37.0 71/1994 19/1940 50/1979 2/1965 60/1979 12/1940 0.69/1938 23
24 47 28 37.0 73/1928 19/1974 54/1936 -7/1965 62/1936 10/1965 0.67/1947 24
25 48 28 38.0 79/1945 23/1937 53/2004 -1/1960 62/1945 13/1960 1.06/1954 25
26 48 28 38.0 76/2007 24/1996 56/2007 4/2001 66/2007 16/2001 0.98/1927 26
27 48 29 39.0 78/1989 26/1955 66/1946 -2/1965 70/1998 15/1965 1.36/1991 27
28 49 29 39.0 79/1945 27/1921 57/1998 3/1934 68/1945 19/1934 1.37/1985 28
29 49 29 39.0 77/1963 31/1970 52/1986 12/1923 64/1986 25/1970 0.94/1973 29
30 50 30 40.0 79/1998 29/1969 62/1998 4/1954 71/1998 18/1954 0.83/1960 30
31 50 30 40.0 77/1943 32/1922 57/1943 0/1923 67/1943 18/1923 1.41/1949 31

Normal High: 43.5

Normal HDD: Month: 957

Normal Monthly Precip: 1.91
Normal Low : 24.8 Normal HDD Season: 6045 Normal Yearly Precip: 5.02
Normal Mean: 34.1 Normal CDD: Month: 0 Ave Snow this Month : 6.5
Normal CDD Season: 0 Ave Snow for the Season: 45.1

Precip: Greatest Monthly Total: 4.33/1948

Snow: Greatest Monthly Total: 19.4/1965
Precip: Least Monthly Total: 0.25/1958 Snow: Least Monthly Total: -1.0/1945


March - Saginaw Records 1892 - Present
March Normals
(1980-2010)
Maximum Minimum Average Daily
Temperature
Precipitation
Date Max Min Avg Record
High
Lowest
Max
Highest
Min
Record
Low
Highest Lowest Greatest Date
1 36 21 28.0 55/1992 8/1962 37/1985 -11/1962 42/2000 -1/1962 0.79/1987 1
2 36 21 28.0 57/1964 9/1950 37/2004 -12/1962 45/1921 1/1962 1.61/1976 2
3 37 21 29.0 69/1974 13/1972 40/1974 -8/1943 38/2004 0/0 0.69/1953 3
4 37 21 29.0 56/2000 15/2002 37/1964 -6/1962 39/2004 0/0 2.02/1985 4
5 38 22 30.0 63/1910 15/1900 38/1935 -8/1948 48/2004 0/0 0.80/1899 5
6 38 22 30.0 62/1974 11/1913 39/1983 -5/1948 38/2005 0/0 0.95/1956 6
7 38 22 30.0 73/2000 14/1989 47/1983 -7/1978 35/2004 0/0 1.68/1995 7
8 39 23 31.0 78/2000 15/1996 54/2000 -8/1943 37/2006 0/0 1.09/1942 8
9 39 23 31.0 66/2000 16/2003 42/1977 -4/2003 44/2006 0/0 1.23/1918 9
10 40 23 31.0 64/1977 18/2003 38/1977 -1/2003 40/2006 0/0 1.23/1992 10
11 40 24 32.0 68/1977 16/1948 49/1902 0/1948 43/2006 0/0 0.69/1990 11
12 40 24 32.0 73/1990 21/1984 48/1977 -3/1948 47/2006 0/0 1.65/1902 12
13 41 24 32.0 72/1990 22/1993 51/1990 4/1926 47/2006 0/0 0.93/1918 13
14 41 25 33.0 78/2012 19/1993 54/1990 3/1993 58/2012 0/0 0.66/1918 14
15 42 25 33.0 78/2012 20/1916 51/1990 4/1925 65/2012 0/0 0.72/1912 15
16 42 25 34.0 71/1927 19/1900 50/1945 -3/1900 57/2012 0/0 1.86/1942 16
17 43 26 34.0 80/2012 12/1941 46/2012 -2/1900 63/2012 0/0 2.04/1973 17
18 43 26 34.0 74/1903 17/1939 53/2012 6/1939 63/2012 0/0 1.11/1998 18
19 43 26 35.0 80/2012 12/1923 63/1903 -1/1923 67/2012 0/0 2.11/1948 19
20 44 27 35.0 83/2012 20/1986 61/2012 3/1965 72/2012 0/0 0.54/1976 20
21 44 27 36.0 87/2012 18/1965 57/2012 1/1965 72/2012 0/0 0.73/1984 21
22 45 27 36.0 82/1938 21/1940 60/1938 5/1906 64/2012 0/0 1.33/1899 22
23 45 28 36.0 74/1938 18/1940 41/2000 1/1906 52/2005 0/0 1.08/1968 23
24 46 28 37.0 83/1910 15/1974 44/1910 3/1940 52/2003 0/0 1.01/1928 24
25 46 28 37.0 80/1945 22/1960 51/1920 4/1974 44/2005 0/0 1.40/1947 25
26 47 29 38.0 76/2007 24/1996 57/2007 7/1923 48/2005 0/0 1.09/1948 26
27 47 29 38.0 79/1945 26/1955 61/1998 8/1965 50/2005 0/0 1.21/1916 27
28 48 29 38.0 78/1946 16/1923 55/1998 4/1923 54/2003 0/0 1.21/2003 28
29 48 30 39.0 82/1910 24/1970 56/1905 7/1923 45/2005 0/0 0.48/1973 29
30 49 30 39.0 75/1910 23/1923 60/1998 5/1923 53/2005 0/0 0.87/1905 30
31 49 31 40.0 77/1943 18/1923 58/1967 2/1923 57/2006 0/0 1.31/1998 31

Normal High: 42.2

Normal HDD: Month: 969

Normal Monthly Precip: 2.06
Normal Low : 25.3 Normal HDD Season: 6068 Normal Yearly Precip: 5.38
Normal Mean: 33.7 Normal CDD: Month: 0 Ave Snow this Month : 6.4
Normal CDD Season: 0 Ave Snow for the Season: 39.8

Precip: Greatest Monthly Total: 0.00/

Snow: Greatest Monthly Total: 0.0/
Precip: Least Monthly Total: 0.00/ Snow: Least Monthly Total: 0.0/

Making weather fun while we all learn,
Bill Deedler -SEMI_WeatherHistorian