Hot Hot! Mother Nature's Giving It All She's Got; But How Long Will It Last? /updated 3/22/2012/

As I continue work in my yard; I see vegetation growing that is clearly weeks ahead of schedule...Magnolia in full bloom (about a month ahead)...numerous flowering bushes 3-4 weeks ahead (next thing you know; the lilacs will start their flower buds...a good 4-5 weeks ahead as they usually bloom late April into early May). This is insane and the unprecedented summer-like heat continues as once again; temperatures are broaching the 80 degree mark easily today (3/22/2012). All trees, deciduous and fruit, are rapidly budding and growing out now! For more on the unprecedented warm to hot March pattern including agricultural interests; see here for further details.

While it's beautiful summer-like weather now; (unfortunately I have to admit, I cranked on the air-conditioning for a short while yesterday and any money saved on heating bills this past winter will fly out the window with air conditioning) it could prove devastating for garden and agricultural interests were there to be a hard freeze and frost. I'm sorry to say; a frost or freeze is highly likely yet along with even the risk of snow. We still have 3 to 4 weeks we have to squeak through before the risk begins to drop off; precipitately.

Our first real cool-down to watch is expected late in the weekend into early next week! Our latest models (3/22/2012) are disagreeing on the extent of the cool down but this one will definitely have to be watched!  A large polar high pressure system will stick its beak down into the Great Lakes and points east early next week and bring quite a change from the summer-like weather we've recently felt! How far south the colder air is able to infiltrate the area remains to be seen; so stay tuned.

Making weather fun while we all learn; 

Bill Deedler - SEMI_WeatherHistorian

(previous blog from 3/20/2012)
A record, summer-like upper level ridge of high pressure continues to dominate the eastern half of the nation. This is bringing unprecedented warmth to the much of the eastern half of the nation; including the Great Lakes and Southeast Lower Michigan. I first blogged about this system last week on the 12th and the mammoth ridge has indeed come to fruition per numerous model projections.

Since last week; these are the records that have been established.

            Detroit 

Da  Norms      Records

15  45 28 37    77/2012     

16  46 28 37    74/1945

17  46 29 38    75/2012

18  47 29 38    75/2012

             Flint

Da  Norms      Records   

14 43 24 33     76/2012

15 43 24 34     78/1990

16 43 25 34     75/2012

17 44 25 34     79/2012

18 44 25 35     75/2012

19 45 26 35     80/2012

            Saginaw

Da  Norms      Records 

14 41 25 33     78/2012

15 42 25 33     78/2012

16 42 25 34     71/1927

17 43 26 34     80/2012

18 43 26 34     80/2012

19 43 26 34     80/2012

And these are the records that will be challenged or easily broke:

DETROIT

TUE   3/20   73 IN 1918

WED 3/21   73 IN 1991

THU  3/22   81 IN 1938

ALL-TIME RECORD HIGH FOR MARCH: 82 SET ON 3/28/1945 (81 AT DTW AS OF 2 PM, 3/20))

FLINT

TUE   3/20    78 IN 1921

WED 3/21    72 IN 1991

THU  3/22     82 IN 1938

ALL- TIME RECORD HIGH FOR MARCH: 82 SET ON 3/22/1938

SAGINAW

TUE   3/20   75 IN 1921

WED 3/21   77 IN 1938

THU  3/22    82 IN 1938

ALL-TIME RECORD HIGH FOR MARCH: 83 SET ON 3/24/1910

WARMEST MARCH ON RECORD FOR:

Detroit 47.9 - 1945 

SO FAR THIS MARCH AS OF 3/19: 48.6 +13.7

 Making weather fun while we all learn;

 Bill Deedler - SEMI_WeatherHistorian