Station Overview Station Location
Station Number MI-ME-3 Latitude 43.738311
Station Name Big Rapids 3.2 NE Longitude -85.443267
County Mecosta Elevation (ft) 1009



Month 30 Yr Avg by PRISM Total Prcp Sum Days Covered By All Observations Daily Prcp Sum Daily Observation Count Multiday Prcp Sum Days Covered by Multiday Observations Multiday Observation Count Days With Prcp Days With Trace Total Snowfall Days With Snowfall Days With Snow On Ground
Oct 09 3.21 3.19 16 3.19 16 0.00 0 0 11 0 0.0 0 0
Nov 09 3.10 1.26 30 1.26 30 0.00 0 0 10 0 0.0 0 0
Dec 09 2.15 2.00 31 2.00 31 0.00 0 0 21 0 15.2 16 28
Jan 10 2.07 0.90 26 0.90 26 0.00 0 0 10 0 5.5 7 26
Feb 10 1.56 0.00 1 0.00 1 0.00 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0
March 10 2.28 1.80 30 1.80 30 0.00 0 0 5 1 0.6 1 4
April 10 3.12 2.04 21 2.04 21 0.00 0 0 9 1 0.0 0 0
May 10 3.43 1.63 16 1.63 16 0.00 0 0 6 0 0.0 0 0
June 10 3.30 4.18 24 2.66 16 1.52 8 2 9 1 0.0 0 0
July 10 2.91 0.09 30 0.09 4 0.00 26 0 1 1 0.0 0 0
Aug 10 3.98 5.22 23 0.96 10 4.26 13 1 2 0 0.0 0 0
Sept 10 3.84 4.53 28 4.53 28 0.00 0 0 13 2 0.0 0 0
Water Year Totals: 34.95" 26.84" 276 days 21.06" 229 5.78" 47 days 3 97 days 6 days 21.3" 24 days 58 days



Days in Water Year Cell Color Key
        Daily Observation with Prcp         Missing Day
        Multiday Observation         Daily/Multiday Observation Conflict

Day of Year Daily Prcp Multiday Prcp
10/1/2009 0.00
10/2/2009 0.21
10/3/2009 0.20
10/4/2009 0.04
10/5/2009 0.00
10/6/2009 0.04
10/7/2009 0.57
10/8/2009 0.00
10/9/2009 0.09
10/10/2009 0.29
10/11/2009 0.04
10/12/2009 0.00
10/13/2009
10/14/2009
10/15/2009
10/16/2009
10/17/2009
10/18/2009
10/19/2009
10/20/2009
10/21/2009
10/22/2009
10/23/2009
10/24/2009
10/25/2009
10/26/2009
10/27/2009
10/28/2009 0.04
10/29/2009 0.00
10/30/2009 0.71
10/31/2009 0.96
11/1/2009 0.04
11/2/2009 0.02
11/3/2009 0.09
11/4/2009 0.00
11/5/2009 0.01
11/6/2009 0.00
11/7/2009 0.00
11/8/2009 0.00
11/9/2009 0.00
11/10/2009 0.00
11/11/2009 0.00
11/12/2009 0.00
11/13/2009 0.00
11/14/2009 0.00
11/15/2009 0.00
11/16/2009 0.00
11/17/2009 0.00
11/18/2009 0.00
11/19/2009 0.14
11/20/2009 0.20
11/21/2009 0.00
11/22/2009 0.00
11/23/2009 0.00
11/24/2009 0.00
11/25/2009 0.26
11/26/2009 0.14
11/27/2009 0.30
11/28/2009 0.00
11/29/2009 0.00
11/30/2009 0.06
12/1/2009 0.04
12/2/2009 0.00
12/3/2009 0.04
12/4/2009 0.11
12/5/2009 0.01
12/6/2009 0.03
12/7/2009 0.12
12/8/2009 0.03
12/9/2009 0.76
12/10/2009 0.08
12/11/2009 0.10
12/12/2009 0.00
12/13/2009 0.03
12/14/2009 0.00
12/15/2009 0.04
12/16/2009 0.04
12/17/2009 0.00
12/18/2009 0.00
12/19/2009 0.04
12/20/2009 0.00
12/21/2009 0.00
12/22/2009 0.02
12/23/2009 0.00
12/24/2009 0.00
12/25/2009 0.14
12/26/2009 0.11
12/27/2009 0.10
12/28/2009 0.06
12/29/2009 0.02
12/30/2009 0.00
12/31/2009 0.08
Day of YearDaily PrcpMultiday Prcp
1/1/2010 0.01
1/2/2010 0.01
1/3/2010 0.00
1/4/2010 0.01
1/5/2010 0.00
1/6/2010 0.05
1/7/2010 0.00
1/8/2010 0.34
1/9/2010 0.00
1/10/2010 0.00
1/11/2010 0.04
1/12/2010 0.05
1/13/2010 0.00
1/14/2010 0.00
1/15/2010 0.00
1/16/2010 0.00
1/17/2010 0.00
1/18/2010 0.00
1/19/2010 0.00
1/20/2010 0.00
1/21/2010 0.00
1/22/2010 0.00
1/23/2010 0.00
1/24/2010 0.18
1/25/2010 0.14
1/26/2010 0.07
1/27/2010
1/28/2010
1/29/2010
1/30/2010
1/31/2010
2/1/2010
2/2/2010
2/3/2010
2/4/2010
2/5/2010
2/6/2010
2/7/2010
2/8/2010
2/9/2010
2/10/2010
2/11/2010
2/12/2010
2/13/2010
2/14/2010
2/15/2010
2/16/2010
2/17/2010
2/18/2010
2/19/2010
2/20/2010
2/21/2010
2/22/2010
2/23/2010
2/24/2010
2/25/2010
2/26/2010
2/27/2010
2/28/2010 0.00
3/1/2010 0.00
3/2/2010 0.00
3/3/2010 M
3/4/2010 0.00
3/5/2010 0.00
3/6/2010 0.00
3/7/2010 0.00
3/8/2010 0.00
3/9/2010 0.00
3/10/2010 0.00
3/11/2010 0.19
3/12/2010 1.46
3/13/2010 0.03
3/14/2010 T
3/15/2010 0.00
3/16/2010 0.00
3/17/2010 0.00
3/18/2010 0.00
3/19/2010 0.00
3/20/2010 0.10
3/21/2010 0.02
3/22/2010 0.00
3/23/2010 0.00
3/24/2010 0.00
3/25/2010 0.00
3/26/2010 0.00
3/27/2010 0.00
3/28/2010 0.00
3/29/2010 0.00
3/30/2010 0.00
3/31/2010 0.00
Day of YearDaily PrcpMultiday Prcp
4/1/2010 0.00
4/2/2010 0.00
4/3/2010 0.00
4/4/2010 0.33
4/5/2010 0.14
4/6/2010 0.48
4/7/2010 0.35
4/8/2010 0.42
4/9/2010 0.09
4/10/2010 0.00
4/11/2010 0.02
4/12/2010
4/13/2010 0.17
4/14/2010 0.00
4/15/2010 0.00
4/16/2010 0.04
4/17/2010 T
4/18/2010 0.00
4/19/2010 0.00
4/20/2010 0.00
4/21/2010 0.00
4/22/2010 0.00
4/23/2010
4/24/2010
4/25/2010
4/26/2010
4/27/2010
4/28/2010
4/29/2010
4/30/2010
5/1/2010
5/2/2010
5/3/2010
5/4/2010
5/5/2010
5/6/2010
5/7/2010
5/8/2010
5/9/2010
5/10/2010
5/11/2010
5/12/2010
5/13/2010 0.26
5/14/2010 0.78
5/15/2010 0.00
5/16/2010 0.00
5/17/2010
5/18/2010 0.00
5/19/2010
5/20/2010 0.00
5/21/2010 0.03
5/22/2010 0.24
5/23/2010 0.00
5/24/2010
5/25/2010 0.00
5/26/2010 0.00
5/27/2010 0.08
5/28/2010 0.00
5/29/2010 0.00
5/30/2010 0.00
5/31/2010 0.24
6/1/2010 **
6/2/2010 **
6/3/2010 **
6/4/2010 **
6/5/2010 0.21
6/6/2010 1.03
6/7/2010 T
6/8/2010 0.00
6/9/2010 0.18
6/10/2010 0.00
6/11/2010 0.14
6/12/2010 0.01
6/13/2010 0.00
6/14/2010 0.17
6/15/2010 0.00
6/16/2010 0.76
6/17/2010
6/18/2010
6/19/2010
6/20/2010
6/21/2010
6/22/2010 0.18
6/23/2010 0.00
6/24/2010 0.17
6/25/2010 0.02
6/26/2010 **
6/27/2010 **
6/28/2010 1.31
6/29/2010
6/30/2010 0.00
Day of YearDaily PrcpMultiday Prcp
7/1/2010
7/2/2010 T
7/3/2010 0.00
7/4/2010 0.00
7/5/2010 0.09
7/6/2010 **
7/7/2010 **
7/8/2010 **
7/9/2010 **
7/10/2010 **
7/11/2010 **
7/12/2010 **
7/13/2010 **
7/14/2010 **
7/15/2010 **
7/16/2010 **
7/17/2010 **
7/18/2010 **
7/19/2010 **
7/20/2010 **
7/21/2010 **
7/22/2010 **
7/23/2010 **
7/24/2010 **
7/25/2010 **
7/26/2010 **
7/27/2010 **
7/28/2010 **
7/29/2010 **
7/30/2010 **
7/31/2010 **
8/1/2010 **
8/2/2010 **
8/3/2010 **
8/4/2010 **
8/5/2010 **
8/6/2010 **
8/7/2010 **
8/8/2010 **
8/9/2010 **
8/10/2010 **
8/11/2010 **
8/12/2010 **
8/13/2010 0.00 4.26
8/14/2010 0.00
8/15/2010 0.00
8/16/2010 0.00
8/17/2010
8/18/2010 0.00
8/19/2010
8/20/2010 0.00
8/21/2010 0.93
8/22/2010 0.03
8/23/2010 0.00
8/24/2010
8/25/2010
8/26/2010
8/27/2010
8/28/2010
8/29/2010
8/30/2010
8/31/2010 0.00
9/1/2010 0.00
9/2/2010 0.06
9/3/2010 1.42
9/4/2010 0.24
9/5/2010 T
9/6/2010 0.01
9/7/2010 0.25
9/8/2010 0.00
9/9/2010 0.00
9/10/2010 0.00
9/11/2010 0.00
9/12/2010 0.73
9/13/2010 0.00
9/14/2010 0.00
9/15/2010 0.00
9/16/2010 0.79
9/17/2010 0.41
9/18/2010 0.07
9/19/2010 0.03
9/20/2010
9/21/2010 0.00
9/22/2010 0.34
9/23/2010 0.00
9/24/2010 0.09
9/25/2010 0.09
9/26/2010 0.00
9/27/2010 0.00
9/28/2010
9/29/2010 T
9/30/2010 0.00



Observation Date Observation Time Precipitation Snowfall Snowfall SWE Snow Depth Snow SWE Notes
10/1/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M Fog is freezing on the deck and the temperature is a chilly 28F with calm winds, a steady 30.05"Hg barometer and 100% humidity. Skies are clear and the sun is just starting to paint the tree tops. We irrigated the gardens all night but many plants are going to suffer. Hopefully the goldenrod will freeze out and our pollen counts will drop.
10/2/2009 8:15 AM 0.21 M M M M An overcast, very dreary, rainy day with a little fog. Temperature is 44F, the winds are out of the east at 8 mph and somewhat gusty. The barometer is still falling and is at 29.52"Hg. A good day to stay inside and get better.
10/3/2009 8:15 AM 0.20 M M M M Overcast with a 45F temperature, 100% humidity, a falling 29.50"Hg barometer and 4 mph winds out of the SE. It's a little misty and radar shows more showers on the way. It's a good hot chocolate morning.
10/4/2009 8:15 AM 0.04 M M M M Overcast with 46F, 90% humidity and a rising barometer at 29.80"Hg. Winds are 8 mph out of of the west and feel chilly. This weather system seems like it's parked here but perhaps will move on and give us some needed sun.
10/5/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M A high, brightening overcast greeted us with a 46F temperature, 87% humidity and slowly rising barometer at 30.00"Hg. Winds are 8 mph out of the west. Sun is promised but hasn't made an appearance yet.
10/6/2009 8:15 AM 0.04 M M M M The day has started with a general overcast, 45F, 90% humidity, 3 mph winds out of the SE and a falling barometer at 29.81"Hg. There is a very light rain and more is promised. This is surely a weather system that wants to hang around, seemingly forever.
10/7/2009 8:15 AM 0.57 M M M M A brisk wind blowing 15 mph out of the west is sending a light rain eddying around the house. At 44F the day seems very much like fall. The barometer, rather low at 29.71"Hg is beginning to rise and the gray overcast left by some fast moving squalls last night shows signs that it might finally break.
10/8/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M We have an almost clear sky, a nippy 42F temperature, a rising 29.91"Hg barometer, a wanning gibbous moon and light 5 mph winds out of the south. A truly beautiful morning with the sun firing the colors in the maples.
10/9/2009 8:15 AM 0.09 M M M M Light rain sputtered through the night but total rainfall was only 0.09". The overcast looks light around the edges, the temperature is 44F the barometer is slowly falling at 29.80"Hg and a 3 mph wind is out of the NNW. Radar shows showers covering a little less than half of the lower peninsula with the southern edge of the huge rain band in Texas.
10/10/2009 8:15 AM 0.29 M M M M A bright sun out of an almost clear sky is burning off the dense fog over the pond and the deck near the CoCoRaHS rain gauge is slippery with a thin layer of ice. Happily the water inside the gauge is not frozen. The temperature, rising now, is 30F, the barometer is 30.02"Hg and is falling. Winds are calm. A very brisk morning to start the weekend.
10/11/2009 8:15 AM 0.04 M M M M The water in the gauge froze last night but didn't break the gauge. After thawing the inner cylinder there was 0.04" of water. Heavy frost covers the lawn and sadly the ornamentals. The temperature is 29F, there is a 3 mph wind out of the south and the barometer is steady at 30.28"Hg. An overcast sky is blocking the sun but hopefully we'll see some clearing and temperatures into the forties.
10/12/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M A gray, slightly mottled, overcast moved in on a fairly clear sky last night and the temperature came up from a low of 27F to just above freezing at 33F and climbing. The barometer is 30.21"Hg and falling and winds are calm. Yesterday had some sunny skies with mid forties and some beautiful fall colors. Hopefully today will be warmer.
10/28/2009 8:15 AM 0.04 M M M M There is a dull overcast with striated, light peach edges and just a few blue patches in the south. It's 45F with calm winds and a falling 29.91"HG barometer. A tiny shower moved by overnight with only 0.04" of precipitation.
10/29/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M There is a solid overcast and feather like wisps of fog are rising from the lake. We have 44F, light winds out of the east and a steady barometer at 30.18"HG. Today is promised to be in the high 50's and partly sunny. It is perhaps the last of our temperate days as some significant weather moves across the plains and toward us.
10/30/2009 8:15 AM 0.71 M M M M Heavy rain started just before midnight as this very large system moved in with 15 mph gusts out of the ESE, a steadily dropping barometer at 29.68"HG and a rising 54F temperature. Interestingly there were packets of cooler air, a sample of temperatures to come, that blew through during the gauge measurement.
10/31/2009 7:15 AM 0.96 M M M M Measurement time started with 41F and 12 mph SW winds under an overcast sky. The barometer is rising at 29.41”HG and the wind chill is just above freezing. We expect the winds to shift to the west later today and drop our temperatures into the thirties as a major system shifts east of us. It will be a chilly evening for the 'trick or treaters'.
11/1/2009 8:15 AM 0.04 M M M M We have a cloudy bright morning, a bracing 39F with light winds out of the SW and a rising barometer at 30.15"Hg. The misty, light sprinkles yesterday morning resulted in 0.03" of precipitation in the official gauge and zero on the digital gauge, an interesting phenomenon that we've noticed when rainfall is below about 0.04”. Above that number the two gauges are generally in agreement within 0.04”. We always report the approved CoCoRaHS gauge reading but like to compare the two instruments.
11/2/2009 8:15 AM 0.02 M M M M A dull gray overcast greeted us this morning with 41F, a light rain falling and a steady barometer at 30.10” Hg. Winds are out of the south and very light. Very early this morning there were broken clouds and a full moon could be seen in the western sky as the overcast began to build. The moon peeked through leafless branches and the sight was very fall like as we await colder temperatures and the possibility of snow
11/3/2009 8:15 AM 0.09 M M M M The sky shows signs of clearing and a partly sunny day is forecast. A dusting of snow on top of frozen rain drops was on the roof, deck railing and floor. No visible precipitation was on the lawn. At measurement time we had 36F and 9 mph winds out of the northwest. The barometer was a healthy 30.18"Hg and rising. On advice of my friend I took the inner tube and funnel from the CoCoRaHS gauge inside to prevent freezing and possible cracking. Soon it will be time to put the snow board outside.
11/4/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M We have a uniformly gray overcast, a 32F temperature, a steady barometer at 30.19”Hg and calm winds. There is a possibility of mixed precipitation turning to light rain showers as the temperature slowly creeps into the forties. November is living up to its reputation as a transitional month with not many sunny days.
11/5/2009 8:15 AM 0.01 M M M M A scant 0.01" of precipitation this morning as the clouds begin to part promising a sunnier day. The temperature is 38F, the barometer is 30.16"Hg and slowly rising and the winds are out of the WNW at less than 10 mph. With a rising barometer we may expect, or at least hope for, drier weather and partly sunny skies.
11/6/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M We have a sea of heavy frost covering the lawn and painted red gold by a sunrise in a clear sky. The temperature is a brittle 20F, winds are calm and the barometer is steady at 30.25”Hg. The low temperature last nigh briefly touched the high teens and is predicted to rise into the upper forties or, if we’re lucky, reach fifty as we start into a warming trend with no precipitation expected for a few days.
11/7/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M We have an absolutely clear, brilliant blue sky and a bright sunrise. A beautiful start for the day with a 45F temperature, not quite balmy 8 mph winds out of the south and a falling, 29.68” Hg barometer. No precipitation is in sight but Monday could be interesting.
11/8/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M A silvery bright sun and cloudless skies are a great start to the day. The temperature is 34F and rising quickly, the barometer is 30.13”Hg and also rising. Winds are calm. The day promises to be another beautiful one, as was yesterday, in West Michigan
11/9/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M A blurred looking sunrise as the sun struggles with a light overcast is a stark contrast to yesterday’s brilliant and warm sun. The temperature is 55F, winds are 9 mph out of the SW and the barometer is slowly rising at 30.03”Hg. No precipitation is forecast but a decrease in temperatures is predicted. That’s not a surprise this time of year.
11/10/2009 8:20 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M A rather washed out looking sun is rising through striated clouds and the lawn and roof have a light coating of frost. The temperature is 29F, the barometer is rising at 30.42”Hg and winds are calm. The day is predicted to be partly sunny and the temperature may hit the low fifties. All in all not a bad forecast.
11/11/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M Please see: MI-ME-2, Big Rapids 0.7 ENE
11/12/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M We have a heavy frost, 22F temperatures, calm winds and a somewhat golden sunrise in a cloudless azure sky. The sun’s rays catch the frost and make the lawn look like a field of diamonds. A slight mist is over the lake with a 90% humidity and a wobbly barometer at 30.25”Hg. Just before 6 p.m. last night it was easy to spot the Space Station in the clear southern sky. It was a tiny, bright dot that led us to thoughts about the astronaut’s view of our weather.
11/13/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M There is a somewhat subdued sunrise this morning as the 29F temperature and dew point are close enough together to produce a light fog. Winds are calm and the barometer has dropped to 29.98”Hg and steady. There is a slight overcast, perhaps high fog, which provides an indication that a predicted change in the weather is on its way.
11/14/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M Again we have a golden sunrise in a clear sky showing that there is more moisture in the atmosphere and acting as an indicator that there may be rain soon. The temperature is 44F and rising, the barometer is 29.80”Hg and steady and there are light winds <3 mph out of the SE. It looks like a beautiful start to the weekend before the firearm hunting season opens with its thousands of hunters hoping for snow that helps them track and spot deer. I do believe they will be disappointed.
11/15/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M Layered clouds obscure the sunrise while a beautiful display of cirrus clouds moves quickly east as a cold front makes its way through the state. The temperature is 37F, the barometer is steady at 29.99 In Hg and we have very light <3 mph winds out of the NW. The night was overcast and blocked out our first chance to see the Leonid meteors. Perhaps tomorrow morning will be better after 3 a.m. Gunshots break the quiet as the first day of firearm hunting brings hunters into the countryside.
11/16/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M We have a light frost and a silver sunrise with a scattering of puffy cumulous clouds underneath slowly moving cirrus. The temperature is a raw feeling 23F with 97% humidity. The winds are dead calm. The barometer is 30.28 In Hg and rising. Radar shows rain near the southern tip of lake Michigan in Illinois and Indiana.
11/17/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M Once again a silver sunrise is greeted by frost that paints the marsh, the lawn and the house. The 30F temperature seems colder and the sky is an intense blue with a scattering of low clouds. The barometer, falling now, is at 30.22 In Hg and very light winds <3mph are out of the east. Last night’s clear skies and absence of moonlight made perfect viewing conditions for the Leonid Meteor shower. Around 3:30 a.m. in the SE sky a sprinkling of them streaked silently, an eerie and wonderful sight. It was 29 F so outside viewing time was limited but well worth the effort.
11/18/2009 8:20 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M We have a rather hazy sunrise, a 40F temperature with 95% humidity and a slowly falling barometer at 30.11 In Hg. The air feels somewhat softer with 5 mph winds out of the east. There are a variety of clouds, some with dark bottoms, and more are expected along with precipitation as a low in southern Illinois circulates moisture into the state. This region of Michigan is quite dry and rain is badly needed.
11/19/2009 8:15 AM 0.14 M M M M A balmy 44F, overcast skies and light, <4mph, winds out of the south greeted us this morning. After sinking all night the barometer has risen to 29.96 In Hg as lines of light showers worked their way through the area overnight and will likely continue today. An interesting observation was the formation of small storm cells that didn’t produce heavy rain but did hurry about sometimes moving over 60 knots. This didn’t transfer to our surface winds but did remind us that rough weather is always possible.
11/20/2009 8:15 AM 0.20 M M M M The sunrise is well hidden behind dark layers of clouds. A very light mist is falling and the temperature is 42F with a slowly rising barometer at 29.99 In Hg. Winds are variable at <3 mph and presently out of the west. The low that was north of us is finally moving off dragging a front that reaches from Canada into South Florida. It seems that our recent weather, which featured a meandering low-pressure area, is headed in a drier direction for a few days.
11/21/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M After an extraordinary night where fog rolled in then lifted then lowered again we have a dense fog, a 40F temperature and a steady 30.11 in Hg barometer. Winds are calm and no precipitation was measured. Visibility is about 300 feet and the air has an almost soft feel. If experience counts, the fog will lift and the day will be sunny and not at all unpleasant
11/22/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M Sunrise is a very bright glow through dense fog that hinted it was going to move in around nine last night. Visibility dropped all night and is about 400 feet now. The temperature is 31F and we have a rising 30.21 in Hg barometer. Winds are calm with just a few brief puffs out of the west. Yesterday turned out to be beautiful with partly sunny skies and temperatures in the high forties. Last night was perfect for our small town, “Festival of Lights,” parade. We had crystal clear skies, a waxing, slightly crescent moon and very large crowds brought out in low forties temperatures.
11/23/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M There is light fog with a visibility of about a quarter mile. Skies look overcast through the fog. The temperature is 41F, winds are <5 mph out of the east and the barometer is 30.18 in Hg and is falling very slightly.
11/24/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M Once again the sunrise is hidden behind a heavy overcast. There is a very light fog with little visibility reduction and the winds are calm. The temperature seems stuck on 42F where it remained almost all night. The barometer is falling very slowly and is at 30.05 in Hg. The falling barometer forecasts a mixed bag of rain and the possibility of snow later this week. A slow moving system now over Missouri will create the change in our weather and is presently causing rain west of us and down past the southern tip of Texas and into Canada.
11/25/2009 8:15 AM 0.26 M M M M As predicted the weather fell apart overnight with rain showers and heavy overcast. The digital and CoCoRaHS rain gauges agree and each show 0.26” of rain. The temperature is a temperate 45F, light winds <5 mph worked their way around from the east to the south and the barometer slid down to 29.60 in Hg. The low-pressure area that was in Missouri yesterday is on our western doorstep thus explaining the rapidly falling barometer. The cold front accompanying the low will start to produce much lower minimum temperatures and a distinct chance of snow on Thanksgiving Day.
11/26/2009 8:00 AM 0.14 M M M M We have featureless gray skies; very light rain and a temperature of 38F this Thanksgiving morning. The barometer is rising and is at 29.62 In Hg. Winds are <4 mph and out of the west. A low helping to create our sodden landscape is presently sitting at the juncture of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Another little low is south of us over Lake Michigan. The combination will create conditions favorable for rain mixed with snow today and tonight. As the lows move on the temperature will continue to drop and the sky may start to clear. Happy Thanksgiving!!
11/27/2009 8:15 AM 0.30 M M M M There are low dark clouds with a hint of blue showing this morning. The temperature is 31F with very cold feeling winds at 9 mph out of the NWN. The CoCoRaHS gauge had a thin layer of ice over the water and after thawing showed a tiny bit under 0.30” inches of rain. The digital gauge was close at 0.28”, an interesting comparison. The barometer is rising and is at 29.6 In Hg. Mixed rain and a little snow fell yesterday afternoon but there was no accumulation. Sunnier weather is forecast but first there is a possibility of snow and Friday night temperature lows are forecast to be in the mid-twenties.
11/28/2009 8:10 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M There is an almost cloudless sky waiting for the sunrise that is shining through the trees and a nippy 27F temperature along with a very light coating of frost on the lawn and roof. We are grateful for a sunny day.The barometer is steady at 29.83 in Hg after falling during the night. Winds are calm and the day is predicted to have some warming before tomorrow when precipitation is again on our doorstep.
11/29/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M There is a pink sky in the east showing through what appears to be fog that is lifting. The temperature is 33F, where it had been almost all night, and the deck is icy with frozen fog. The barometer is 29.72 In Hg and is a bit unstable. Winds are calm although earlier than the report time, 8:15 am, there were a few brief breezes that shifted from the south to the west as a system south of us works its way into Michigan. Once again we are between two lows with a small low north of us and the resulting weather is not promising but as always will be interesting.
11/30/2009 8:15 AM 0.06 M M M M Sunrise is obscured behind low, dark clouds touched with pink that shows through the monochromatic woods to our east. The pink helps to relieve a otherwise cheerless gray sky. The temperature has hovered just above freezing and is now 33F with calm winds and a steady barometer at 29.71 in Hg. More rain fell than we expected and the digital and CoCoRaHS gauge readings are surprisingly close. This is the first time we have removed the inner tube and funnel to prevent freeze damage.
12/1/2009 8:15 AM 0.04 M M M M We have a beautiful bright sunrise through the trees this morning. The sky is clear and there is just a little haze hugging the ground. Temperatures overnight were around 35F but just before dawn sunk to 31F at measurement time. There are very slippery patches of ice on the deck that made interesting walking to check on the CoCoRaHS gauge. The barometer had been rising but is now steady at 29.77 In Hg. Last night a brief, silent shower passed by leaving only .04” of rain. We are promised a dry sunny day today.
12/2/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M The sunrise is starting to wipe out a brilliant moon, just now setting. There are rows of mackerel clouds signaling a weather change that we have anticipated. The temperature is 33F and there is a significant frost covering much of the lawn and the roofs. Winds are dead calm and the barometer is 29.52 In Hg. Last night’s moon was incredibly bright and the frost forming on the lawn looked like a complete covering of snow looking blue and cold under the moonlight.
12/3/2009 8:15 AM 0.04 M M M M It is overcast to the point of being darker than usual with a 33F temperature and a 5 mph wind out of the north. We expected some snow but whatever fell has melted off the lawn, the deck and the driveway. The barometer has been on a slow upward march and stands at 29.6 in Hg. It appears very much that winter has arrived and we merely have to wait for lower temperatures and the onslaught of the usual lake effect precipitation and winter weather systems sweeping in from Canada and the Pacific Northwest.
12/4/2009 8:15 AM 0.11 1.1 0.11 1.1 M A bright sunrise in a blue sky make the woods and lawn look like a Christmas card with glistening pure white snow outlining tree branches and fence rails. The temperature is 24F and nipping my hands and nose, as it feels even colder. The barometer has risen to 29.93 in Hg and the winds are light and out of the WNW. I tried a somewhat different approach to measuring the liquid water content of the new snow. I used a precision scale and measured the weight of the snow in the cylinder and subtracted the empty weight of the cylinder. Then the weight of the snow could be converted to the amount of water. This gave me the same amount that was measured by adding warm water, subtracting the amount of warm water and obtaining the water content of the melted snow.
12/5/2009 8:15 AM 0.01 0.1 0.01 1.0 M It’s overcast but bright due to the high albedo of the snow on the ground. The sunrise is hidden by the overcast but the eastern sky is also very bright. There are still a few snowflakes falling and the temperature is chilly at 23F. The barometer is steady at 30.06 in Hg and winds are dead calm. We are relying on the recommended procedure for water content but will, when there is a greater snowfall, try the precision scale snow weight method for comparison purposes. As I write this the sun popped out for a few moments making it very beautiful outside.
12/6/2009 8:15 AM 0.03 0.7 0.03 1.5 M There is a beautiful orange sunrise just under a heavy veil of clouds. The temperature is 23F, winds are calm and the barometer is steady at 30.0 inches Hg. A few flakes of snow are drifting around but there is no significant snowfall rate at this time. It is late in the year for our little lake to start to freeze and there are still large patches of open water showing. Areas where the springs feed in are open and there is one trail where the beavers, busy as always, have opened a path to their lodge.
12/7/2009 8:15 AM 0.12 1.1 M 2.1 M There is a light snowfall and a heavy overcast at measurement time. The temperature is 26 F and the barometer has fallen to 30.07 in Hg. The driveway, having thawed and then frozen again, is a skating rink. The snowboard shows a total of just over 2 inches total with 1.1 inches added over the last 24 hours. We have a winter storm watch with significant snow accumulation possible here. South of us, nearer Grand Rapids there is a possibility of freezing rain and ice pellets.
12/8/2009 8:15 AM 0.03 0.2 M 1.7 M Lake effect overcast masks the sunrise and we are preparing for significant snowfall after noon today and for the next 24 hours. There is a winter storm warning as a significant weather system works its way toward us. The temperature is 22F, the humidity is 100% and the barometer his risen slightly to 30.20 in Hg as the system approaches. The Canada Geese must sense something is going to happen and major formations of them can be seen heading southward. Their raucous calling can be heard as they signal other flocks to join them and their “V” flight formations are beautiful against a leaden sky. We wonder where they are headed.
12/9/2009 8:15 AM 0.76 5.3 M 7.0 M Fairly heavy snowfall resulted in 5.3 inches of new snow. The temperature has risen a little and is just above freezing at 32.2 F. The barometer has fallen to 28.4 in Hg and, at the moment, winds are calm but were over 20 mph last night and blowing out of the ENE. That direction seems odd but I think it means that the low pressure area associated with this huge system is still southwest of us. Thus we can expect more snow and lower temperatures as the low moves northeast.
12/10/2009 7:00 AM 0.08 0.8 M 7.0 M We have total darkness at 7 a.m. with light but continuous snowfall. The flakes are tiny in the 19F temperature and the barometer has continued to rise and is now at 29.52 in Hg. Winds are calm but overnight they were out of the East. More snow is predicted as we settle into some colder temperatures.
12/11/2009 8:15 AM 0.10 1.0 0.10 8.0 M There is a layered overcast with a brighter eastern horizon. At 8:15 a.m. we are ten minutes past the official sunrise time. The barometer has climbed to 30.02 in Hg as cold dense arctic air fills the Muskegon River valley. It’s nine degrees colder today with a 10F temperature and, at the moment, calm winds which are predicted to pick up out of the west and may be gusty. The potential for blowing snow may be the reason that the local schools are closed again.
12/12/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M 7.5 M We were out stargazing at 5 a.m. and quickly discovered that the temperature had tumbled to a brutally cold -2F. Later at measurement time, 8:15, with a brilliant sunrise in an absolutely clear blue sky, the temperature had risen to 8F, not very warm but a definite improvement. The barometer is steady at 30.25 in Hg. The cylinder was empty but coated with frost that weighed 2 g that was equivalent to 0.01” of precipitation. If we understand the rules, this amount is not to be included in our report and thus we had no new snow or precipitation to report.
12/13/2009 8:15 AM 0.03 0.0 M 6.5 M We have a heavy overcast and the temperature, at 33F, is twenty-five degrees warmer than yesterday at this time. The barometer has fallen to 29.80 in Hg as a front, associated with a low in Canada, works its way toward us. Last night’s moist and warmer winds out of the south felt mild but now the winds are calm. Today is forecast to have a possibility of ice pellets and the gauge had a small amount, 7 grams, of slush. Tiny droplets of rain or really small ice pellets are falling at this time. It’s an abrupt change after yesterday’s sunshine and clearer skies.
12/14/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M 6.0 M Again we have a heavy overcast and an above freezing, 33F,temperature. A very fine mist is falling and is freezing on our driveway so it is treacherous walking this morning. The barometer is at 29.81 in Hg. Winds are mostly calm and the prediction is for freezing drizzle and some ice and snow accumulation. Thus far the cylinder hasn’t captured any precipitation.
12/15/2009 8:15 AM 0.04 0.2 M 6.0 M We have a gentle, very light snowfall with little accumulation thus far. The temperature has steadily fallen to 26F and there are 3 mph winds out of the NW. The barometer is rising and is at 30.1 in Hg. In lake effect areas such as ours a rising high barometer would likely forecast clearing skies but instead we continue with overcast skies and precipitation as moisture from Lake Michigan carries into our area. It’s interesting since we can get precipitation from cold dry systems that move over Lake Michigan, pick up moisture and dump it south and east of the Lake.
12/16/2009 8:15 AM 0.04 M M 6.0 M A 12F temperature was a cold greeting this overcast morning. The barometer is headed slowly up and is at 30.42 in Hg. The small amount of fluffy snow that fell went unmeasured due to an error on my part. Total precipitation was identical to yesterday and was at 0.04 inches. Winds are 5 mph out of the west giving a calculated wind chill of 2F. According to the NWS, with a 2F wind chill, frostbite will occur in twenty minutes so I didn’t stay outside to enjoy the winter scenery.
12/17/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M 6.0 M A beautiful, fairly clear morning with a bracing 6F temperature and, fortunately, calm winds. We’ve had no precipitation and the barometer is at 30.42 in Hg. The snow on the uncleared section of my snow table is six inches deep with a layer of buried ice and the drifted snow in the yard and is close to ten inches.
12/18/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M 6.0 M For a while last night the skies were clear and the temperature went down to 12F but has risen to 14F at this time. The barometer is falling and is at 30.08 in Hg. The was no precipitation and none is expected for a day so we get some relief from the lake effect snow and overcast that is so common this time of year. We should receive some insolation today as we did yesterday when it peaked at 500 Watts/square meter.
12/19/2009 8:15 AM 0.04 0.5 M 6.0 M We have a total overcast and a 27F day after a night of about the same temperature. The barometer continued its downward trend and is now at 29.8 in Hg. Winds are 5 mph out of the east. A light snowfall overnight gave us one-half inch of snow. Yesterday’s bright sun was welcome but today it seems unlikely to pop out again. We are working our way to the beginning of longer days and probably more “interesting” weather.
12/20/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M 6.0 M A brightening sky is partially clear as we await dawn. The temperature is 19F and the barometer has risen to 30.02 in Hg. Tomorrow the sun will rise just a little later but will set a little later. This process will continue as the days slowly lengthen. Finally in January the sun will start to rise earlier and the days will continue to set later as we gain more hours of daylight, more solar heating and head for major changes in the weather.
12/21/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M 6.0 M We have just a promise of a sunrise this first day of winter. It’s cloudy bright with 19F, calm winds and a bouncy barometer presently at 30.02 in Hg. There is a slight dusting of snow that is essentially not measurable. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 8:12 and set at 5:08 giving us one minute more of daylight. Not much more, but it’s a start!
12/22/2009 8:15 AM 0.02 0.3 M 6.0 M Again we have a mostly clear sky with a very bright eastern horizon. The temperature is very chilly at 8F and the barometer is rising quickly at 30.28 in Hg. Not much snow fell but enough that there was 0.02 inches of liquid precipitation. A warming trend is forecast and there is the possibility of snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain. It’s sort of a cafeteria of precipitation.
12/23/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 6.0 M As an understatement it’s overcast even though the barometer has risen to 30.42 in Hg. Perhaps it will brighten later. The temperature is rising quickly and is 14F with a +6 mph wind starting to shift from the north to the east. A rather nasty bit of weather is headed our way with multiple lows and complex fronts probably gathering for an assault on our Christmas Eve and day weather. The forecast still calls for ice pellets, snow, sleet and rain. If we miss reporting later in the week it may well be because we have no power.
12/24/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M 5.5 M Blustery winds of around 10 mph out of the ESE and a 24F temperature make a cold visit for this morning’s trip to the weather deck. The barometer is steady but has fallen to 30.25 In. Hg. There is no precipitation but it feels eminent with the humidity above 90%. At this time a winter weather advisory is to kick in from 7 pm tonight to 5 pm tomorrow, Christmas day. The radar shows a mess of precipitation west of us in Wisconsin and I’ll bet that advisory kicks in earlier.
12/25/2009 8:15 AM 0.14 0.0 M 5.5 M Ice pellets, rain, 15 mph gusty winds out of the east, a 32.5F slowly rising temperature and a falling barometer at 29.72 in Hg are the Christmas morning welcome on the icy weather deck. The cylinder has half frozen contents that look like a bumpy slush. Southwest of us there is a cluster of fast moving, i.e.70 knot, storm cells. It’s interesting weather in the abstract but unfortunately we’re in the middle of it. I want to wish everyone in the CoCoRaHS family a Merry Christmas!!
12/26/2009 8:15 AM 0.11 0.2 M 4.0 M This morning on the very slippery weather deck there is a thin layer of crusty snow, a 25F temperature, a steady 29.5 in Hg barometer and 3 mph winds out of the east. A light snow has covered the ice patches in the driveway. It may hide them but they still are slippery enough to make the dog fall and almost pull me down with him. More snow is forecast but for the moment we expect no more freezing rain. Today will be a quiet weather day, perhaps giving us enough new snow to give our favorite cross country skiers a nice outing.
12/27/2009 8:15 AM 0.10 1.1 M 5.0 M We have fluffy new snow, a 20F temperature, calm winds and a barometer reading of 29.7 in Hg. It’s a fairly bright day with some interesting cloud formations. The new snow has covered the bare spots and pines to make a Christmas card out of the lawn. We took some secondary roads last night. They provided some challenging driving conditions with deep ruts and slippery surfaces. Even so it was beautiful driving through the countryside.
12/28/2009 8:15 AM 0.06 1.5 M 6.5 M There is a very heavy overcast this morning. The temperature is 27F and the barometer has dropped to 29.65 in Hg. The snowfall was very light and fluffy and the winds, which are out of the west, are 9 mph and give us a wind chill of 18F. The relative humidity is 97% so it seems even colder. As beautiful as the flocked trees are I didn’t linger on the weather deck.
12/29/2009 8:30 AM 0.02 0.5 M 7.0 M There is a lighter overcast with some signs of breaking. The temperature is 18F and the barometer is rising and is at 30.36, a good sign. Yesterday afternoon and last night we had near whiteout conditions as +20 mph winds out of the WNW whipped up the powdery snow that reduced visibility to 400 feet. Driving last night was challenging with drifting snow even on well-traveled roads.
12/30/2009 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M 6.5 M We have a fairly bright overcast, a 16F temperature and a falling barometer at 30.18. The winds are 3 mph out of the SSE. There was no measurable precipitation. After a light overcast start, yesterday turned out to be what the aviation people call Severe Clear. Visibility was unlimited; the skies were brilliant blue and the sun brilliant on the snow. Before midnight the temperature plummeted to 9F and the moon was so bright that the woods lost their nighttime mystery and deer could be seen back in the trees. Around midnight the clouds rolled in, the temperature started to rise and the barometer started to fall in anticipation of our next round of precipitation
12/31/2009 8:15 AM 0.08 0.6 M 6.5 M There is a featureless gray sky, a rising temperature of 29F and a slowly falling barometer at 29.85 in Hg. An overnight wind, now calm, out of the south has brought a high relative humidity that stands at 97% and the snow, which looks fluffy, is sticking to my boots. There is 0.6 inches of new snow, which, judging by the 0.08 inches of water, is not at all the fluffy light snow we’ve been having. Today marks the end of a really good year that included fun with ham radio and geocaching with Davie, MI-ME-02, who’s enthusiastic interest in everything to do with weather got me involved with CoCoRaHS. I have a warm feeling for the good folk that participate in and administer CoCoRaHs. To all of you I wish a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!
1/1/2010 8:15 AM 0.01 T M 6.5 M A bright southeast sky heralds what should be a beautiful sunrise to great the New Year. There are a few patches of blue sky to complete the winter picture. The temperature has been falling and is now 16F with a rising barometer at 30.1 in Hg. We have 6 mph winds out of the NNW that are making a pleasant sound as they whisper though the red pine alongside the weather deck. Just a dusting of snow, almost too little to measure, is in the cylinder while the snowboard level is the same as yesterday’s measurement.
1/2/2010 7:30 AM 0.01 0.1 0.01 7.0 M January weather is asserting itself with a 1.6 F temperature, calm wind and a barometer that is rising sharply at 30.28 in Hg. The sky is clear with a yellowish edge in the east and we note that the fall constellations are far west and mostly masked by a bright almost full moon—the second full moon this month and thus a “blue moon.” There was a 0.1 inch dusting of diamond filled new snow and the weather deck has many small, night visiting creature tracks, mostly rabbit and something larger that we don’t recognize.
1/3/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 7.0 M There was no precipitation during the last 24 hours. We have a beautiful clear sky with a peach colored horizon, a 7.6F temperature, almost calm winds that gusted to 15 mph early this a.m. and a steady barometer at 30.31 in Hg. This will be the week that the sun finally starts rising earlier and in combination with a sunset that has been later each day since the Winter Solstice our day will be longer by 49 minutes by the end of January. That will be a welcome change as is today’s Colorado like clear sky. That last remark is courtesy of a friend in Louisville, CO.
1/4/2010 7:30 AM 0.01 0.1 M 6.5 M We have a scarce 0.1 inches of new snow with just a few flakes coming down and a few breaks in a cloudy sky this morning. It has warmed to 19.6F but feels chilly with a gusty 15 mph NW wind. The barometer has fallen to 30.12 in HG. Little more snowfall is forecast which is a change from last night’s forecast that called for about an inch. We shall see.
1/5/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M 6.5 M No traces of new snow although it appears that yesterday’s winds have blown snow around in the yard. My fence “gauge” shows about a 12” drift. Not too bad for this time of year. The temperature at 8:15 a.m. is 19 F, winds are out of the NNW at 9 mph and the barometer is 30.04 in Hg. Skies are cloudy bright. For the moment the weather here has settled down a little but both north and south in the state there is measurable precipitation.
1/6/2010 8:15 AM 0.05 0.1 M 6.5 M A little freezing drizzle and some snow gave us 0.05 inches of precipitation that was more than expected. The ice certainly was a major contributor. The new snow depth seems low at 0.1 inches but with gusty winds overnight some may have blown away. The temperature is 23 F, the barometer is on its way up at 30.06 in Hg and the winds are 10 mph out of the NNW. It seems bright today and perhaps the sun will appear briefly. By Sunday the sunrise will be a whole minute earlier, a welcome change heralding significantly longer days.
1/7/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 6.5 1.49 We have overcast skies, a 22.6 F temperature and a falling, unsteady barometer at 29.98 in Hg. Winds are calm and we’ve had no measurable precipitation. Today for the first time I measured the core’s equivalent water. Because of the ice layers I was concerned that the plastic cylinder would break so I used a coffee can. Its diameter was 3.75 inches so I compensated by dividing the square of the cylinder diameter by the square of the coffee can diameter. This gave me a compensation value of 1.13778. Then I got the compensated net weight of the snow and ice in the coffee can, 307.1977 grams, and using the MI-ME-2, MI-ME-3, factor of 0.004856134 grams of water equal to 0.01 inches of precipitation, obtained 1.49 inches of precipitation. This is probably low since there was a bottom layer of ice that I couldn’t penetrate. It was an interesting exercise carried out with reckless abandon of the proper application of significant figures.
1/8/2010 8:15 AM 0.34 2.6 M 9.0 M There is a brighter but overcast morning with just over 2.6” of new snow. The temperature is 15.9 F and 9 mph N winds give us a wind chill of 5 F. The barometer is at 30.1 in Hg and continues to rise. Some of the icing and heavy snow seems to have gone south of us and a number of those school systems are taking a snow day. The new snowfall lends its own magic to the woods and just now a pair of bright red cardinals visited one of the feeders on the weather deck. They join the dozens of other less dressy but equally interesting birds.
1/9/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 9.0 M We’ve had no precipitation in the last 24 hours. There is very bright sky that looks cloudless just before dawn here. The barometer is slowly rising and is through the roof at 30.39 in Hg. The 9 F temperature lets us know that we have a dome of cold high pressure sitting on us. Today is the day I calibrate my fence “gauge” down by the woods. By looking at it from a distance I can obtain some drift information. It looks like a perfect cross-country skiing day.
1/10/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 9.0 M We have a beautiful bright morning with the sun just ready to peek over the horizon. After clear skies yesterday and last night we have no new snow to report. It’s warmer this morning at 15 F, the barometer is falling and is at 30.32 in Hg and the winds are calm but have been light and out of the SW. My fence “gauge” down by the woods shows a drift of 16”. That’s not a record but it still is hard to walk through coming back uphill.
1/11/2010 8:15 AM 0.04 1.1 0.04 9.0 M It is an overcast morning made bright with 1.1” of fluffy new snow. More snow is falling very lightly. The temperature is surprisingly steady at 19 F and the wind is calm but last evening was out of the SW. The barometer is at 29.9 in Hg after falling from 30.32 in Hg yesterday morning. We expect more snow and more wind as another system heads toward us.
1/12/2010 8:15 AM 0.05 0.9 0.05 9.5 M It is overcast with 0.9 “ of new snow. Interestingly the most recent snow has low moisture content with yesterday’s snowfall to water ratio of 27.5:1 and today’s ratio of 18:1. I can see why any set ratio assumption would not give an accurate precipitation measurement. The barometer climbed to 30.38 in Hg and the temperature is 17 F after diving to 5 F last night. Winds are calm but were up to 10 mph out of the N during the night. There must have been gusts since much less snow is flocking the pine trees this morning.
1/13/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.60 9.5 M We have a welcome change from yesterday’s overcast. The sky is blue and dozens of small pink tinged clouds are scurrying out of the southwest showing that the winds aloft are in the same direction as our ground level 10 mph winds, which blew all night, out of the southwest. There was no snow or precipitation and the 25 F temperature indicates a warming trend that may lead to a thaw. The barometer is falling and is at 30.08 in Hg. The lengthening days are quite noticeable now and even after six last evening the western horizon had a distinct glow.
1/14/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 9.0 M We have an overcast sky although the east is bright. The air is quite moist and the snow is cooling it enough that we have light, but widespread ground fog. The temperature is 25 F and the barometer continues to fall and is at 29.95 in Hg. It’s calm now but last night’s winds were out of the south. There is a distinct possibility of some drizzle this afternoon. That and a sub-freezing temperature tonight may result in some challenging driving.
1/15/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 7.0 M It is another bright overcast morning with a 31 F temperature and a rising barometer at 30.20 in Hg. We’ve had no precipitation but the weather deck is treacherous with ice and the driveway is an ice rink. The traditional January thaw has arrived. Weather around the winter solstice is always different.
1/16/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 7.0 M The humidity is high at 95%, the temperature is 29 F and the skies continue to be overcast. It is a repeat of yesterday’s weather with no precipitation and with a slightly lower temperature. The barometer is unsteady at 30.14 in Hg and the winds are 6 mph out of the SW. The snow core is a scant 7”. A high of 36 F is predicted although at this time the temperature is falling. This pattern will change next week with colder temperatures and a possibility of snow. It is the time of year when some sunshine would certainly be welcome.
1/17/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 7.0 1.84 There is no precipitation in the gauge but there is freezing fog with a 500 foot visibility. The winds are at 4 mph out of the WSW and the barometer is falling and is at 28.85 in Hg. The temperature is 25 F but shows some signs of rising and possibly burning out the fog. We are surely in the weather doldrums for a few days.
1/18/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 6.0 M There is the same sort of overcast sky as yesterday with a 29.3 F temperature and a barometer that is at 28.80 in Hg. Winds are calm. Once again the deck is a little icy and the driveway is still quite icy and walking is difficult. We’ve had no precipitation. Yesterday afternoon was sunny with scattered clouds. The sun felt quite warm and the temperature rose to 36 F. The burst of UV was needed to help keep our attitudes from tanking from the sameness of cloudy skies with no new snow to brighten and cleanse the area.
1/19/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 6.0 M There is no precipitation to report. The total snow depth is just under 6 inches. We have a bright overcast sky showing that the sun is surely rising earlier each day. Today the official sunrise time is 8:10 a.m. and the length of day is almost two minutes longer than yesterday. The temperature at 25 F is rising, there is a very light wind out of the SSW and the barometer, at 29.20 in Hg, is rising. For the first time this year bare ground is showing in the yard albeit over the septic field. That’s the winter equivalent of greener grass in the same place.
1/20/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 6.0 M Once again there has been no precipitation over the past 24 hours. The morning sky is fairly clear and bright with fringed yellow clouds on the horizon awaiting the sun’s appearance. It is a beautiful start to the day. The weather deck is chilly with a 16.2 F temperature and there is no wind at the moment. The barometer has continued to rise and is at 30.09 in Hg. We know that this weather is bound to change but we will enjoy what we have and anticipate changing conditions as longer days and solar warming create increased temperature and pressure gradients.
1/21/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M 6.0 M Again there is no precipitation to report. Interestingly our winds have shifted to the east and were somewhat gusty at 10 mph almost all night. We have a slowly falling barometer at 30.08 in Hg. The temperature is 22F and the wind chill is a nippy 11 F. There are many clouds moving rapidly toward the west. Frequently east winds occur before weather changes and in two days warming temperatures and rain are forecast. This is really good news as we need the precipitation. We were surprised that yesterday’s sun didn’t reduce the depth of the snow on the snow table. It has a significant icy crust but remains at a scant 6 inches.
1/22/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 6.0 M Today’s report is much the same as yesterday’s with no precipitation, continued winds, down from 10 mph to 6 mph, out of the ENE, a rising temperature at 26F and a barometer rising now at 29.90 in Hg. While out on the deck I felt a packet of warmer air roll by out of the south. We feel that we’ve been in the post-solstice doldrums but there are a number of hints that changes are coming. The packet of warmer air is one hint and the oscillating barometer and temperatures are others. The edges of the snow are retreating on the snow table but there is still a scant and crusty 6 inches of snow in the middle. More bare spots are appearing in the yard.
1/23/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 5.5 M Still no precipitation but the winds have shifted to the ESE at 6 mph and a weather change is predicted. There must be a heavy layer of clouds as today’s dawn seems darker than yesterday’s. The temperature is 29F and the barometer is unsteady at 30.02 in Hg. A significant amount of snow has disappeared from the edges of the snow table and the center of the pile has gone below 6 inches and is now a strong 5.5 inches. We expect by this time tomorrow there will be some precipitation, probably rain, that has moved in from the west.
1/24/2010 8:15 AM 0.18 0.0 0.18 5.0 M Overcast skies, light rain, gusty 13 mph winds out of the ESE, a 36.6 F temperature and a briskly falling barometer at 29.39in Hg are features of this morning's trip to the deck. The snow table shows 5 inches of snow and the driveway has both puddles and ice, always a bad combination for walking. This is typical January thaw weather that doesn't fool us into a sense of the end of winter.
1/25/2010 8:15 AM 0.14 0.0 0.14 1.0 M We’ve had 0.14 inches of liquid precipitation, the barometer is steady at 29.18 in Hg, the temperature is 31F and the winds are somewhat gusty at 9 mph out of the SW. A significant amount of snow has melted in the yard and there is only one inch left on the snow table. Even on the table the edges are completely clear and only in the center is the remaining one inch of crusty snow. The icy snow left on the deck makes for dangerous walking.
1/26/2010 8:15 AM 0.07 0.6 0.07 0.5 M It’s overcast and a 0.6 inch layer of new snow has brightened the landscape. The barometer is rising sharply and is at 29.50 in Hg, the temperature is 26 F and the winds, shifting now I think, are 6 mph out of the SW. It’s nice to have the fresh coating of snow obscure the bare ground and dirty snow that resulted from the thaw. As we near the end of the month the longer days are very evident and I think the winter solstice weather doldrums are over.
2/28/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M We’ve had no precipitation over the last 24 hours. There are overcast but bright skies, a mild and rising 33 F temperature and a rising barometer at 29.89 in. Hg. The wind is at 5 mph out of the NNW. Perhaps it’s wishful thinking but there is a hint of spring in the air. My snow table only has 4" of snow which is not meaningful as I've been away since 1/26/2010 and don't have a measurement history in the interim. While I was gone my CoCoRaHS reporting station was FL-HB-67. It’s good to be back and enjoy the onset of warmer temperatures and clearer skies
3/1/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M Again there has been no precipitation. There are puffy pink clouds in an almost otherwise clear sky and the sun, much further north than when I left a month ago, is shining through the trees. The temperature is 32 F and the barometer continues to rise and is at 30.11 in. Hg. Winds are very light out of the NNW. This time of year we start to watch the south and west for the beginning of severe weather that generally starts there and then moves north as temperatures begin to rise.
3/2/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M 3.5 M Nice, but chilly 14.4 F, weather continues with no precipitation. Skies are severe clear as the sun rises with a 99 degree azimuth making it slightly south of east. Winds are calm and the barometer is steady at 30.09 in Hg. More and more lawn is visible and the snow table has less than 4 inches as the snow slowly sublimates.
3/3/2010 8:15 AM M M M 3.5 M No precipitation and oddly enough the same temperature as yesterday at this time, 14.4 F. The barometer seems to be dropping a little at 29.95 in. Hg., and skies are, for the most part, clear. The rising sun is golden through the trees and has an azimuth of 98.6 degrees, which is 0.4 degrees further north than yesterday. The snow table has lost another bit of snow and is down to 3.3 inches which we dutifully round and report as 3.5 inches.
3/4/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M 1.0 M There is no precipitation to report today. Skies again are mostly clear and even this early there is perceptible warmth from the sun. At 8 a.m. the temperature was 14.4 F where it was the preceding two days. At my measurement time, 8:15 a.m., it had risen to 15 F so we must be in a warming trend. The snow table layer was at 3.3 inches of snow yesterday and today there is less than 1 inch, which will likely be gone by the end of the day.
3/5/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M 0.0 0.00 Skies are wonderfully clear and it’s really cold this morning at 12 F so the warming trend I imagined yesterday was just a nice thought. There has been no precipitation and the barometer is climbing and is at a nice high 30.38 in Hg. Winds are calm. The snow on my snow table is gone after being irradiated with yesterday’s afternoon sun.
3/6/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 M M It’s bright and cold at 13 F and with clear skies. Once again there has been no precipitation and the CoCoRaHS cylinder has a fine layer of dust on it. The barometer is breaking through 30.41 in Hg. Winds are calm but there was a brief breeze out of the west. The snow cover, in the open, is 30% gone and I wonder if the winter wheat crop will be affected by the lack of snow cover and below average precipitation. Please refer to Mi-ME-2 for interesting and accurate comments on long-term average conditions.
3/7/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M It is a slightly hazy morning with heavy frost and a 19 F temperature. No precipitation yet although there is some down around the foot of lake Michigan. The barometer has fallen to 30.19 in. Hg. Our snow cover is now about 40% gone except in the woods where it will hang on until the rains melt it. Our string of clear sunny days has lifted spirits as we await spring and its interesting, warmer weather. We do not forget, however, some Easter blizzards.
3/8/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M Again we have a light haze with clear skies. So far there is no precipitation but some is in the forecast for later this week. It’s warmer this morning with a 24.1 F temperature. The barometer is down to 30.05 in Hg. Winds are calm. Just now a pair of Canada geese, raucous as ever, landed on the still frozen lake. This is traditional for early March as the pair of geese look to protect their favorite nesting spot.
3/9/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M Again there is a light haze, a few clouds and thus far no precipitation. Winds are calm and the temperature is 26 F. The snow cover is about 40 % with none at all on the weather deck. The large weather system that caused tornados in Oklahoma is still west of us but is wrapping around and should give us rain as we leave sunny days behind and enter a period of cloudy skies, some wind and better chances of precipitation.
3/10/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M Striated pink and gray clouds mask the sunrise on this 39 F morning. Winds are 4 mph out of the east and signal the changing weather. Thus far there has been no precipitation but very light showers are showing on the radar and should arrive here within several hours. The barometer has fallen to 29.74 in. Hg and continues to fall. The top layer of soil is soggy but a hard layer of frozen ground can be felt beneath it.
3/11/2010 8:15 AM 0.19 M M M M We received the first rain of this year, 0.19 inches. A fairly dense fog that rolled in late last night is limiting visibility to about 500 feet. Most of the snow is gone except for a few drifts and in the woods. The wind remains out of the east at 5 mph and the barometer is unsteady at 29.73 in. Hg. There is a definite sense of spring in the air but the snow tires will stay on the cars. After all this is Michigan with it’s surprising weather.
3/12/2010 8:15 AM 1.46 0.0 M M M A heavy downpour last evening brought 1.48 inches of rain which has pooled on the still frozen ground. The temperature is 39 F, winds are 4 mph out of the east and the barometer is bouncing around at 29.69 in. Hg. Interestingly, according to the radar summary, the heaviest rain in the state was here in Big Rapids. The fog rolled in last night and will burn out later but at measurement time (8:15 a.m.) the visibility is about 600 ft.
3/13/2010 8:15 AM 0.03 M M M M We got just a little precipitation, 0.03 inches, that seemed mostly a light mist. The barometer continues to be unsteady and is lower yet at 29.62 in. Hg. 10 mph winds are out of the ENE and gusty. The dew point and temperature are close enough to create fog and it’s hazy but we don’t have the dense fogs of the last two days. This weather system looks like it is wrapping around a low and we expect to see more rain moving in from the east; an interesting phenomena.
3/14/2010 8:15 AM T M M M M We’ve had just a trace of rain. The temperature is rising, the humidity is falling and our winds are 12 mph and still out of the ENE. The barometer is rising slowly and is at 29.75 in. Hg. Although there was just a trace of rain the weather deck is quite wet. Skies are bright and overcast and improving weather is forecast.
3/15/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M No rain this period. The skies are overcast but look somewhat brighter. The temperature, in spite of a 5 mph NE wind, is 44 F and the barometer is rising and is at 30.04 in. Hg. Forecasts look dry and it’s likely that the overcast will blow out today.
3/16/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 T M No precipitation but a light frost with a 25 F rising temperature. Skies are clear with just a few cirrus clouds and a calm wind. The barometer is 30.15 in Hg. Per the CoCoRaHS request to include whatever snow remains; there are just a few small patches so we’ll give it a “T.”
3/17/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 T M Once again there has been no precipitation and the ground is powdery dry. This dry weather poses some fire danger which will increase each day that we don’t have rain. With clear skies the temperature is 24 F after a warm day yesterday. The barometer seems a little unsteady at 30.11 in Hg. Winds are calm at the minute but appeared to be trying to shift toward the NNW. There are few and far between small piles of snow in the woods and along the roads. This is probably the last day we can claim a trace of old snow.
3/18/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M 0.0 0.00 There has been no precipitation for this report. The temperature this morning was a mild 37 F and the barometer is dropping and is 28.86 in. Hg. Winds are light, 3 mph, and overnight shifted to the SW. Snow and/or rain is predicted for this weekend so the dry spell may be over. We’ve been watching the sunrise azimuth and it is at 90.4 degrees so perhaps tomorrow it may be even closer to due east (90 degrees).
3/19/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 We have had no precipitation and there is a featureless gray sky at sunrise this morning. The temperature is 36 F and the barometer is steady at 29.74 in. Hg. Winds are out of the east at 4 mph. For the first time this year the sun at sunrise has an azimuth slightly north of east at 89.9 degrees. Rain/snow are still in the forecast for tonight and Saturday and a few small showers are over Lake Michigan. The Palmer Z index shows we are slightly dry and the local farmers tell me that we are on the edge of a drought condition so the two sources agree.
3/20/2010 8:15 AM 0.10 0.6 0.01 0.6 0.01 There is a light covering of snow on the lawn and weather deck but the driveway is clear with the temperature of the pavement around 40 F. The barometer is rising at 30.1 in Hg , the temperature is 28 F and winds are calm. We are on the northern tip of this weather system that extends down to southern Texas. There was significantly more snow in the cylinder than on the snow table. I assume that the wind blew it in the cylinder. The end result is that the melted snow from the cylinder has 10 times the amount of melted snow from the snow table. While MI-ME-2 is in Detroit this station will be the reference for our area as we are only 2.2 miles apart.
3/21/2010 8:15 AM 0.02 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 We’re just past the March equinox on March 20 so it is the first full day of spring! We have a temperature of 28F with cloudy skies, an unsteady barometer at 30.16 in. Hg and winds are calm. Just for a moment the sun peeped through the clouds so we know it’s out there. Precipitation was frozen in the bottom of the cylinder and represented 0.02 in of rain. MI-ME-2 and I use scales to determine the net weight of the precipitation in the cylinder. Our conversion is based on 2 grams of precipitation (in the cylinder)=0.009712268 inches of rain. Nolan’s conversion is rounded and 2 grams of precipitation=0.01inches of rain. Either number is acceptable; we use a spreadsheet to crunch the numbers. Considering the accuracy of our net weight system our conversion number is well beyond the significant figures in the weight number but looks impressive and was fun to derive.
3/22/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 There is no precipitation to report. Sunrise was through a few low clouds but skies are mostly clear. Winds have picked up a little and are 6 mph out of the NE and appear to be shifting to the east. The barometer is steady at 29.98 in. Hg. Today’a warming temperatures encourage some exploration of the woods to check for fallen trees and beaver damage.
3/23/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 Again there has been no precipitation. The temperature is 25F, winds are calm and the barometer is steady at 29.87 in. Hg. We’re having a string of beautiful days but need rain badly.
3/24/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 There is a very light frost and no precipitation in the cylinder. Skies are hazy, the temperature is a nippy 26F, winds are calm and the barometer is rising at 30.04 in. Hg. Thirteen hours of light is a good thing but our dry spell is not. We may get some relief this weekend.
3/25/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 There has been no precipitation as a dry cold front pushes through bringing gusty, 12 mph,north winds and cloudy skies. Rain and or snow are still a possibility for Sunday.
3/26/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 Today is dry, clear and cold (16F). Winds have dropped to 4 mph out of the north and the barometer is still rising at 30.18 in Hg. Our forecast for this weekend has dropped the chance of precipitation so again we remain dry.
3/27/2010 8:10 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 Again there has been no precipitation, the skies are overcast with layered clouds, the temperature is 31F, the winds are calm and the barometer is at 30.19 in. Hg. Once again tomorrow, Sunday, has a slight chance of rain.Local farmers are concerned with the continued dry spell and above average daytime temperatures.
3/28/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 No precipitation to report with a 29F temperature and a falling barometer at 29.78 in. Hg. Winds are 4 mph out of the north but appear to be shifting. There is no rain in sight this week. That is bad news for our area.
3/29/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 Very dry again with a 32F temperature, a rising 29.93 In. Hg, barometer and 3 mph winds out of the north. Above average daytime temperatures are predicted with nighttime lows in the twenties and no rain in sight.
3/30/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 It is still very dry with just a light frost. Under the night’s clear skies the temperature fell to 25F and the barometer is 29.93 in Hg. Winds are calm. This weekend’s forecast shows showers for Saturday night and Sunday.
3/31/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 There is a silver sun showing through layers of clouds that haven’t brought any rain. It’s much warmer this morning and at 46F we have just a sample of the warmer temperatures expected today. Winds are variable at 5 mph out of the SSE and the barometer is 29.81 in. Hg. Rain is forecast for Saturday night but we can’t spot any systems west of us that might provide some relief from this dry period. The Palmer Z index hasn’t been updated yet to include March but we expect it will show slight drought conditions here. Conditions are much better than last September but this time of year is much more critical to our growing season.
4/1/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 No rain yet as the sun climbs higher every day at this time and is now well north of due east. The barometer is unsteady at 29.75 in. Hg, winds are calm with a few packets out of the south. It feels like today will be a warm one and may break a record for high temperature. Again there is a chance for rain in the Saturday night Sunday morning forecast.
4/2/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 Dry again with a comfortable 63 F temperature and a falling dew point. With gusty 8 mph south winds and low humidity we are under a fire weather warning. Tomorrow some rain is forecast and west of us and approaching western Wisconsin is a fairly significant line of rain. This should move across Lake Michigan and hopefully give us some dry spell relief Saturday morning if Lake Michigan with its cold water doesn’t slow down the line of showers.
4/3/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 Lot’s of stratus clouds are obscuring the sun. The winds, busy all night, are now calm. After yesterday’s record high the temperature has fallen to 42F and the barometer has also fallen and is at 29.61 in Hg. There is a slight fog over the lake; that is something we usually see in the fall. No rain so far but the radar shows some over Wisconsin and we expect it to move in some time this afternoon. It will be great to have some precipitation to report!
4/4/2010 8:15 AM 0.33 M M M M This morning is overcast with some misting. Over the last 24 hours we’ve had 0.33 inches of much needed rain. The temperature is 41F and the barometer has risen to 29.98 In Hg. Winds are out of the south at 5 mph. Skies to the west are slightly broken and we may have a sunny Easter to celebrate. More precipitation is west of us so hopefully we’ll have something to report tomorrow.
4/5/2010 8:15 AM 0.14 M M M M There are broken clouds and a bit of sun on a mild feeling 46 F morning. The leaves on the paths in the woods are nicely moist as we’ve had 0.14 inches of rain. Winds are calm and the barometer is steady at 29.82 In. Hg. Late last night there was a substantial amount of ground fog that has now dissipated. The grass is wonderfully green and once more underground critters are having a field day leaving piles of dirt on the lawn.
4/6/2010 8:15 AM 0.48 M M M M We’ve had 0.48 inches of rain, none of it heavy but quite constant, and some thunder. The temperature is 46 F, the barometer is unsteady at 29.71 In Hg and there are 4 mph ENE winds. There is some rough weather south of us as there were, and still are, a very large number of lightning strikes in SW Michigan.
4/7/2010 8:15 AM 0.35 M M M M On a soggy, 98% humidity morning with overcast skies we’ve had 0.35 inches of rain with brief wind gusts overnight as some fast moving storms skirted the area. The barometer is slowly rising at 29.57 In. Hg and the winds are at 5 mph out of the ENE. The temperature is 47F. Our morning walk in the woods revealed a few broad-leaf aspens that had broken off limbs. This is common with these trees and is a good reason to stay out of the woods when the winds are gusting.
4/8/2010 8:15 AM 0.42 M M M M We had almost constant light rain overnight that gave us 0.42 inches of rain. The temperature is 40F and falling with a low barometer at 29.43 In Hg. North winds are 5 mph. We’ve been comparing rainfall with MI-ME-2 who has reported slightly lower totals. He has exceptional longitudinal weather studies over more than five years and is an excellent source of historical data interestingly analyzed and presented.
4/9/2010 8:15 AM 0.09 M M M M Rain was partially frozen in the gauge this morning and a small plug of fine ice crystals was in the funnel. When it was all melted down we had 0.09+ inches of liquid. The temperature is 32 F and winds are a little gusty at 10 mph out of the WNW. There must have been some stronger gusts last night as there are more tree falls in the woods this morning. The barometer is rising nicely at 28.88 In.Hg. Some good weather is on its way!
4/10/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M No measurable precipitation but there is a scattered frost on the lawn. The temperature fell to 32 F, the barometer has a slight downward trend at 30.18 In. Hg and the winds, for the moment, are calm. Overnight there were sporadic gusts. Some rain is forecast but thus far we are dry. A front is approaching and we expect winds to pick up and perhaps get some showers.
4/11/2010 8:15 AM 0.02 M M M M Our brief report today shows we had 0.02 inches of rain after a small line passed with just a few sprinkles. Winds are calm and the temperature is 32.2 F. It should be warmer and pleasant day to start getting the yard equipment going again.
4/13/2010 8:00 AM 0.17 M M M M Showers blew through around dawn from the NW heading SE and gave us 0.17 inches of precipitation. The rain was a surprise, as it was not in the forecast for today. Winds are gusty out of the east and are at 9 mph. The barometer has been rising slowly and is at 30.39 In Hg. Skies are variably overcast and the sun has been on and off as the clouds blow along. It is very much a rather warm April spring day. We have a gut feel that pop up storms are possible soon.
4/14/2010 4:30 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M No rain, 7 mph ESE winds and an unsteady barometer at 29.83 In Hg. The temperature is 42 F. It is predicted to be an above average temperature day. We are making a very early measurement as we leave for Grand Rapids and hope to be back on schedule tomorrow.
4/15/2010 8:14 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M Tax day features no rain, a comfortable 50 F on the weather deck and calm winds. The barometer is 30.13 In. Hg and is falling. With just a few clouds today should be a nice, above average temperature day with a possibility of rain later in the day. The fire hazard is increasing and will be high if winds pick up later today.
4/16/2010 8:15 AM 0.04 M M M M A nice 50 F morning after a little shower passed by giving us a 0.04 inches of rain. Winds are 6 mph out of the NW and the barometer is 29.80 In. Hg. A significant drop in temperature is forecast and perhaps a little rain or even…snow.
4/17/2010 8:15 AM T M M M M We had just a trace of rain and it’s cold, 36 F, with 11 mph NNW winds and a 29.95 In Hg barometer. The winds were quite strong most of the night with gusts up to 22 mph. A rain snow mix was predicted but didn’t make it here. Skies are partially overcast and starting to break. It will be a windy, cold day with no hint of the spring that we hoped would stay. Once again there may be some sprinkles and even a few snowflakes with a possibility of frost this evening.
4/18/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M No precipitation and an overnight low of 26 F. It has warmed to 34 F now and we expect much warmer temperatures today. The barometer is rising nicely and is showing 30.16 In. Hg. Winds are 5 mph out of the NNW. Evidently no rain is expected until the end of this week. The dry weather persists for us.
4/19/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M We’ve had no precipitation but there is light layer of frost covering the lawn and roof. The freeze warning was right on as the temperature dropped to 27F last night. Once again it’s warming quickly and we have 30F at 8:15 a.m., our customary measurement time. Winds are dead calm and the barometer is rising at 30.22 In. Hg. Skies are clear, then sun has a little warmth and aside from being too dry, it will be a beautiful day in west Michigan.
4/20/2010 8:00 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M We are still dry on this 32F morning. Winds are less than 3 mph out of the NW and the barometer is 30.05 In Hg and is falling slightly. Interestingly there is dew on the grass and fog right over the water in the lake so there is some humidity although we don’t have a means of measureing the percentage.
4/21/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M No rain, just a little dew on a 31F, beautiful morning. Winds are calm and the barometer has slowly fallen to 29.80 In. Hg. Could rain be on our doorstep? A family member just returned from Iceland and aside from volcano’s they have very interesting weather! Imagine CoCoRaHS going international!
4/22/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M It is dry again and we have a very light frost on a brisk, 31F, morning. Skies are clear and the barometer has risen to 29.91 In. Hg. There are very light, <3 mph, winds out of the north. Some rain is forecast for Saturday; we hope the forecast is correct.
5/13/2010 8:15 AM 0.26 M M M M We have a nice drizzle and some heavier rainfall that left us with 0.26 inches of rain as a cluster of storms heads toward us. The leading edge of the same rather active system was in Indiana yesterday as we drove through on I65 and I69. The temperature is 46F, the barometer is tumbling at 30.05 In. Hg and winds are 9 mph out of the east with 12 mph gusts. There are rumblings of thunder south of us.
5/14/2010 8:00 AM 0.78 M M M M There has been a total of 0.78 inches of rain in the last 24 hours and in spite of cool temperatures, it’s 47F now, the lawn seems to be growing by the minute. The barometer is rising and is at 30.02 In. Hg. Winds are at 8 mph out of the WSW and for the first time the aspen leaves are out enough to quake. Skies are mostly clear with a few puffy cumulous clouds. It’s a beautiful morning.
5/15/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M No precipitation on a bright 39F morning. There is a heavy dew, the barometer is rising at 30.31 In. Hg and winds, for the moment, are calm. These are great days in central Michigan as trees leaf out in shades of light and dark green.
5/16/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M Another beautiful but dry day. The temperature is 48F, the barometer is at 30.29 In. Hg and the winds are <5mph out of the NE. The humidity must be low as there is a only a little dew and open spots in the garden are dry and dusty.
5/18/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M The expression “dry as a bone” fits this weather. Low humidity and breezes may lead to some fire hazards if we don’t get any precipitation. The temperature is 51F, 8 mph winds are out of the NNE and the barometer is 30.02 In. Hg and is steady. There is a possibility of rain the end of this week—we won’t hold our breath on that forecast.
5/20/2010 4:30 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M It's still dry as we leave town very early this morning. It's 40F, winds are calm and the barometer is 29.98 In. Hg. Rain is in the forecast for tomorrow!
5/21/2010 8:15 AM 0.03 M M M M We have a very light rain that has given us 0.03 inches of precipitation. The temperature is a very pleasant 56 F and the barometer is steady at 29.99 In. Hg. Winds are dead calm. More rain is in the forecast.
5/22/2010 8:15 AM 0.24 M M M M We received 0.24 inches of rain from quiet showers that drifted through. This morning it is 58 F with calm winds. The barometer is at 29.88 in. Hg. The woods no longer have the acrid smell of fall leaves but instead have the earthy fragrance of new growth and moist soil. There are thousands of tiny wildflowers blooming and dandelions are appearing all over the place. The lawn appears to have grown overnight but is too moist to mow. We do not feel any twinges of guilt over its length but instead are reflecting on the beauty of the bright green grass and its dandelion freckles.
5/23/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M No rain to report but there is rather heavy dew. The temperature is 56 F, winds are calm and the barometer is steady at an even 30.00 in. Hg.
5/25/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M Dry again with summer like temperatures. It’s a very warm morning with the temperature rising at 66 F. The barometer is steady at 30.10 in. Hg. There is a 4 mph ESE breeze. As our high moves away we just might find some slight cooling and precipitation tomorrow.
5/26/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M With 63 F we have a slightly cooler morning. Winds are calm and the barometer is at 30.01 in. Hg. There are just a few pop up showers south and northwest of us and across lake Michigan. The forecast is for a 30% chance of showers and T-storms this afternoon.
5/27/2010 8:15 AM 0.08 M M M M We got a 0.08 inches of rain from a nearby thunderstorm while northwest of us a few miles away they got one inch of rain in an hour with a pop-up storm that developed and then moved NE slowly with heavy rains and numerous cloud to ground lightning strikes. The temperature is a comfortable 64F, the wind is 4 mph out of the NW and the barometer is 29.45 and steady.
5/28/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M No rain but last night’s beautiful brilliant full moon made up for it. Just for fun I took my Kindle outside and sure enough the moonlight was bright enough to read by. This morning we have a comfortable 59F temperature, a 5 mph NNW breeze and a steady barometer at 29.38 in. Hg. There is no rain predicted until Monday.
5/29/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M No rain thus far. The temperature is climbing rapidly and is 61F at our 8:15 a.m. measurement time. The barometer is 29.38 in. Hg and winds are calm but earlier were out of the NNW. Rain and thunderstorms are still predicted for Monday.
5/30/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M There has been no rain it's a little warmer with a temperature of 65F this morning. Winds are calm and the barometer is 29.89 in. Hg. If I go camping I will not have any reports for a few days. There is an odd phenomenon when I go camping in certain campgrounds. It’s an almost a 100% certainty that it will rain, sometimes terribly hard, when I camp in Ludington State Park. I have seen an ocean of floating air mattresses from tent campers and have experienced continuous lightning, severe hail and strong winds at that beautiful campground.
5/31/2010 8:15 AM 0.24 M M M M Two vigorous pop-up storms sailed through early this morning and left 0.24 inches of rain. The second storm had a torrential downpour but was moving so rapidly that the rainfall was quite limited. The temperature is 66F, the barometer is bouncing at 29.73 in. Hg, and there are 9 mph winds, gusty at times, out of the SW. More rain is forecast for this week so my camping trip to Ludington, MI continues the tradition of having ample rain and some storms.
6/6/2010 8:15 AM 1.03 M M M M We had a surprising 1.03 inches of rain, much of it in the afternoon and night. The temperature is 57F and the winds are calm but are shifting to the NW. The barometer is headed up at 29.61 in. Hg after an overnight dip to below 29.5 in. Hg. Skies look disturbed and are overcast. The 1.03 inches of rain make our previous five day accumulation of 0.21 inches look pretty meager.
6/7/2010 8:15 AM T M M M M We have had just a trace of rain. It is cool, 46F, and the sky is a severe clear brilliant blue. Winds are calm and the barometer has risen to 29.98 in. Hg. The previous rainfall of over one inch has the lawn wonderfully green and almost visibly growing.
6/8/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M No rain but there is some in the forecast for today. It's quite cool this morning, 52F, winds are calm and the barometer is at 30.15 in. Hg and seems to be trending down. If the rain comes this afternoon I'll be mowing a jungle instead of a lawn!
6/9/2010 8:15 AM 0.18 M M M M We’ve had 0.18 inches of rain. It’s a much warmer, 63F, morning with 5 mph W winds. The barometer has fallen to 29.67 in. Hg and there is a possibility of more rain. I was lucky yesterday and the rain held off until the lawn was mowed. Both the woods and grass are brilliant green and the corn is sprouting in nearby fields. It’s a beautiful sight.
6/10/2010 7:10 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M No rain to report on this beautiful 57F morning. There is a light dew and the sun is just starting to be golden on the tree tops. The barometer is rising at 29.86 in. Hg and winds are calm. There is rain in the forecast but none in sight at this time
6/11/2010 8:15 AM 0.14 M M M M We had 0.14 inches of rain overnight. It’s cool, 58F, and the barometer is 29.99 in. Hg. Winds are calm although some weather is aiming at us from the west and we can expect rain, some winds and possibly thunderstorms.
6/12/2010 8:15 AM 0.01 M M M M We have had 0.01 inches of rain and it is a warm, 73F, unpleasantly muggy morning. Winds are 5 mph out of the west after being out of the south earlier and the barometer is rising at 29.81 in Hg. There is some rain SW of us that may make it here later. The nasty weather west of us yesterday never made it here.
6/13/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M
6/14/2010 8:15 AM 0.17 M M M M Flag day dawned with mostly overcast skies, a 64 F temperature and a 28.82 in Hg barometer. Just after midnight we had quite a downpour and the overnight accumulation was 0.17 inches of rain. We heard a single distant rumble of thunder but no thunderstorms came near this station. June is indeed proving to be a wet month.
6/15/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M No rain to report on an overcast 61 F morning. Winds are 5 mph out of the ENE and the barometer is steady at 29.89 in Hg. Some storms are predicted but thus far they are a long way west and south of us. It feels fall like.
6/16/2010 8:15 AM 0.76 M M M M Quite bit of rain during the last 24 hours. We've had 0.76 inches, mostly overnight. The temperature is 63F and the barometer is 29.77 in. Hg. Winds are at 11 mph out of the west. The weather seems quite unsettled but June is a transition month in Michigan so we expect almost anything
6/22/2010 8:15 AM 0.18 M M M M We received 0.18 inches of rain in about an hour last night around 2 a.m. This morning at 8:15 the temperature is 67F, the barometer is rising at 29.81 In. Hg and the winds at 9 mph are out of the WNW. Tonight and tomorrow are predicted to have some rough weather.
6/23/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M No precipitation to report but a lot of bad looking weather across Lake Michigan and headed this way. It’s a muggy 67F morning, winds are calm and the barometer is unsteady at 29.98 in. Hg. There was severe weather south of us yesterday and more is predicted for today.
6/24/2010 8:15 AM 0.17 M M M M We received 0.17 inches of rain around 1 a.m. It was a shower that arrived quietly and provided a quick, refreshing shower for me as I to camped out on the deck. This morning the temperature is 64 F, the winds are 11 mph out of the NWN and the barometer is climbing at 29.81 in. Hg. The predicted rough weather yesterday fell apart over Lake Michigan.
6/25/2010 8:15 AM 0.02 M M M M It’s a brisk 54 F morning and sometime last night 0.02 inches of rain snuck into the gauge. The barometer is 30.03 in. Hg and winds are calm. More rain is predicted for tomorrow, Saturday.
6/30/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M There has been no precipitation and at 8:15 a.m., the last day of June has a 51 F temperature, calm winds and a rising barometer at 30.02 In. Hg. We have had perfect weather for the past three days. The temperature touched 40 F early this morning and tonight's temperature may sink into the 30’s. That’s brisk!
7/2/2010 8:15 AM T M M M M It’s much warmer, 60F, at 8:15 this second day of July. On the previous day there was no precipitation but around ten last night a tiny shower went through and left a trace of rain. Winds are calm and the barometer is dancing around a little at 30.23 in. Hg. Much warmer temperatures are predicted and our cool, low humidity days are gone for a while.
7/3/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M No rain and a 63F, fast rising temperature at 8:15 a.m. Winds have shifted to the ESE and are at 5 mph. Clearly change is afoot. The barometer has fallen 30.05 in. Hg and is unsteady. Today will probably be clear and quite warm. Hopefully Independence Day will be clear and the evening will provide skies that showcase the fireworks we enjoy on one of our country’s great holidays.
7/4/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M Wow, a firecracker warm morning at 67F and rising. No rain and a bumpy barometer at 29.98 in. Hg. Winds are 3 mph out of the south. The heat wave headed here is quite strong and at the Honeywell Labs in greater Minneapolis (Golden Valley), the temperature was 80F at 3 a.m. having cooled down from 84F at midnight. Happy 4th of July to our great country!
7/5/2010 8:15 AM 0.09 M M M M A quiet little shower last night gave us 0.09 inches of rain. Fortunately it held off until after some great local fireworks. This morning at 8:15 it had managed to cool off to 74F and the entire night was quite muggy. The barometer has sagged to 29.81 in. Hg and S winds are 6 mph. It’s rather unpleasant weather but not unusual for Michigan in July or August.
8/13/2010 8:00 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M This is our first time back at the home base. There was a total of 4.26 inches of rain from July 6 to August 13 2010.
8/14/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M A very humid morning as we await a cooler front and some relief from a protracted hot spell.
8/15/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M Very humid and quite foggy this morning. Looks like the rain passed us by this time.
8/16/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M No rain to report. Our high humidity has vanished and temperatures in the 60's and low 70's are very welcome.
8/18/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M Farmers, particularly those north of us, are getting concerned about the prolonged dry spell at this critical time of the crop year.
8/20/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M
8/21/2010 8:15 AM 0.93 T M M M A nice rain giving us 0.93 inches of needed precipitation. Starting at midnight it lasted until just after 4 a.m. and was quite steady. There were a few distant rumbles of thunder but otherwise it was just a nice line that took quite some time to pass.
8/22/2010 8:15 AM 0.03 M M M M There were some very heavy showers in the area but just a light sprinkle here. Five miles SW of us were blinding downfalls.
8/23/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M
8/31/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M We are back on home base now but have no rain to report. Tomorrow's report may change as a cold front tries to move through and may give rise to some precipitation.
9/1/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M A very late report but there's no rain to report. Later today there was some rain. It's a muggy morning and that slow moving cold front is pushing this way.
9/2/2010 8:15 AM 0.06 M M M M We've had a very light shower that only gave us 0.06 inches of rain as a cold front prepares to move across Lake Michigan and bring us some wind, rain and much lower temperatures. Unsettled conditions will last for a few days as fall approaches.
9/3/2010 8:15 AM 1.42 M M M M A group of fairly strong but not large storms gave rise to heavy rains and intense, nearby lightning. They almost seemed to focus on our area after looking like they might skirt us. All in all an exciting, late evening event.
9/4/2010 7:30 AM 0.24 M M M M Just 0.24 inches of rain on a 48F morning. There's a 10 mph wind out of the WNW and some clear sky. We have just a mist of rain at this time. (7:30)
9/5/2010 8:15 AM T M M M M Just a trace of rain this 43F morning. It will be a wonderful, almost clear day.
9/6/2010 8:15 AM 0.01 M M M M The gauge had a scant 0.01 inches of rain this morning. It's warmer, 60F, than yesterday and the humidity is higher. We're looking at a rather large area of rain over Wisconsin and expect it to move in later today. Even with the rain it's nice to have the cooler weather after the heat in August.
9/7/2010 8:15 AM 0.25 M M M M We've had 0.25 inches of rain and now have a fair amount of wind on this 69F, somewhat muggy morning. Yesterday's showers pretty well wiped out our town's Labor Day celebrations.
9/8/2010 7:00 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M No rain for this earlier than normal report. It's 53F, the sky has groups of clouds moving W-E but there is not much ground level wind yet although some is expected. Please see MI-ME-2 for a more complete situation statement.
9/9/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M No rain but lots of dew this 49F morning. Looks like a nice day is in store for us.
9/10/2010 5:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M We had to leave very early this morning and found it was a nippy 39F with no rain to report.
9/11/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M No rain to report but some is heading this way as it crosses Lake Michigan this humid, 54F morning.
9/12/2010 8:15 AM 0.73 M M M M A nice gentle rain gave us 0.73 inches of needed rain. The lawn is bright green and some of the maples are showing red as we start the slope into fall.
9/13/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M No rain and a beautiful 50F morning.
9/14/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M No rain to report and a somewhat chilly 43F clear morning. There is a large fog bank over the lake because of the waters warmth.
9/15/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M No rain but some was close by. It's another beautiful morning with a really crisp 39F temperature. I was surprised that there was no frost!
9/16/2010 8:15 AM 0.79 M M M M A surprising amount of rain fell after midnight and we ended up with 0.78 inches in the gauge. There was no thunder so the showers were able to move through without any fanfare. This morning finds us with a heavy overcast and a light drizzle.
9/17/2010 8:15 AM 0.41 M M M M More rain than I expected.
9/18/2010 8:15 AM 0.07 M M M M It's a 57F morning and overnight we had some light showers that gave us 0.07 inches of rain. There were several distant rumbles of thunder but nothing near by. There are still some very light sprinkles but the skies will clear later.
9/19/2010 8:15 AM 0.03 M M M M
9/21/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M No rain and much warmer, 59F, this morning. A rapidly approaching cold front may bring some rough weather and we can expect spotter activation.
9/22/2010 8:15 AM 0.34 M M M M Last night we were surrounded by some significant weather but only ended up with 0.34 inches of rain. The humidity is still high even though a cold front sailed on through displacing a lot of moist Gulf air.
9/23/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M No rain, 61F and humid this morning. It's a misty morning and there is water dripping off the roof but no rain is in the gauge. The wind is making my big wind chimes very active. MI-ME-2 and I just finished basic Skywarn training. It's a great opportunity to learn more about weather. We were pleased that CoCoRaHS was discussed by the instructor.
9/24/2010 8:14 AM 0.09 M M M M Not a great deal of rain, 0.09 inches, but a lot of after midnight winds with a temperature at 2 a.m. of an astounding 80F. We had several power flickers and one power outage as the winds created havoc with trees and power lines.
9/25/2010 8:15 AM 0.09 M M M M Just 0.09 inches from a drizzle that should leave here soon. It's a bracing 46F with a NNW wind at 5 mph. Clouds are scurrying by from W to E and there is a nice warm gold color in the eastern sky. For some reason the fall colors seem muted this year
9/26/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M No rain to report on a crisp, beautiful 39F morning. Winds are calm at the moment and the air is drying out after some previous high humidity days. There was a hint of frost on the garage roof and one hopes that a stronger frost will take out the cursed goldenrod!
9/27/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M No rain but a few clouds. 39F and again some frost on the garage roof. Winds are calm and the day looks like it will be beautiful. We hold our breath for what is next!
9/29/2010 8:00 AM T M M M M Just a trace of rain from a little drizzle yesterday. There is a heavy ground fog with visibility of perhaps 500 feet and the temperature is 40F. The fog will quickly burn off and the day should be quite sunny.
9/30/2010 8:15 AM 0.00 0.0 M M M No rain on a 50F rather damp morning. Skies were fairly clear but an overcast looks like it may form. There is a 20% probability of rain today and tomorrow. Even with the light touch of frost the lawn is lush and green. It has been a fine growing season here.



Start Date End Date & Time Duration in Days Precipitation Snow Depth Snow Depth SWE Notes
6/1/2010 6/05/2010 8:15 AM 5 0.21 M M We have a muggy feeling 62F morning with 6 mph NW winds and a slowly rising barometer at 29.62 in. Hg. There is a light fog over the lake and a heavy dew. Since we were away we are reporting the accumulation of rain, 0.21 inches, for June 1 through today, June 5.
6/26/2010 6/28/2010 8:15 AM 3 1.31 M M Heaviest precipitation was Sunday, June 27, around 3 p.m. It was a gully washer!
7/6/2010 8/13/2010 8:15 AM 39 4.26 M M



Observation Date Observation Time Notes Largest Stone Size Average Stone Size Smallest Stone Size Stone Consistency Duration Minutes Durration Accuracy Damage Timing More Rain than Hail Hail Started Largest Hail Started Angle of Impact Number of Stones on Pad Distance Between Stones on Pad Depth of Stones on Ground