Weather Whine

Where we live in SW Michigan, the weather is normally very variable. If something ugly happens, like a heat wave or a super cold spell, we deal with it and expect the weather to change in a few days.

When we have temperatures in the 90s, a thunderstorm normally brings in cooler air. After a thunderstorm we expect to be back to pleasant temperatures. Maybe even chilly temperatures.

If you've been following my weather whinings, you know that things have not been normal this July. We've had temperatures in the "hot", "hotter", or "way too hot" range every day and thunderstorms almost every evening. With very high humidity.

Today was only "hot". It stayed in the mid 80s and was comfortable outside as long as we weren't being active. And now, because I couldn't say it better, here is the National Weather Service forecast for this evening:

A STRONG WARM FRONT WILL PUSH TOWARD LOWER MICHIGAN TONIGHT. AHEAD OF THAT WARM FRONT...A LARGE AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM WISCONSIN AND WESTERN UPPER MICHIGAN WILL BE MOVING SOUTHEAST AROUND 50 MPH TOWARD LOWER MICHIGAN AROUND SUNSET.

DAMAGING WINDS UP TO 70 MPH AND LARGE HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE FROM THE STRONGEST OF THESE STORMS. IN ADDITION...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTING WILL ACCOMPANY THESE THUNDERSTORMS.

ALSO...LOCALLY TORRENTIAL RAIN...PERHAPS IN EXCESS OF 2 INCHES COULD LEAD TO SOME URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE FLOODING ALONG WITH RAPID RISES ON SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS.

So, what does it mean when it's 85 degrees and a warm front moves in?

THE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE OUT OF THE AREA BY 9 OR 10 AM ON SUNDAY. THEN POSSIBLY THE HOTTEST AIR SINCE JULY 29TH OF 1999 MAY OVERSPREAD THE AREA.

... COULD RESULT IN HEAT INDEX VALUES NEAR 105 DEGREES. A HEAT ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED.

I'm starting to hear the rumble of thunder in the distance. Time to unplug my laptop again.