A Touch Of Winter - Then Spring-Like Again...

Good Afternoon!

The last couple of days we have been enjoying seasonable, dry weather, with sunshine.  Today, Old Man Winter is reminding us that he's not happy with Spring coming to move him on, and we have a vigorous low bringing a little bit of everything to the area, so let's get into it and see what we have:

WINTER WEATHER IN SOME SPOTS:  There's a Winter Weather Advisory for freezing rain in effect until 8 PM for Eaton, Clinton, Ingham and Jackson counties until 8 PM for freezing rain that could accumulate into up to a tenth of an inch of ice.  That will cause a slippery trip home, as well as potential power issues with increased weight on lines and wind blowing.  We could also see a few snowflakes mixed in with this stuff so be careful!

A DECENT WEEKEND ON TAP:  Forecast data indicates that we should see clearing skies and temperatures starting to climb again - once we get this low and the associated surface boundary through here and on the way out tomorrow night.  A mixed bag of precipitation, primarily rain and freezing rain, but I can't rule out a few flakes here and there, is on the table through tonight.  Winds should start to come back around to the west and southwest tomorrow, so that will bring a touch of warmer air to get us into all rain temperatures.  Skies clear out tomorrow night with temperatures right around freezing.  We get into the upper 40's low 50's territory for the weekend.

DEFINITELY MOISTURE IN THE MIX:  The saying is April showers bring May flowers...April is certainly starting off with plenty of showers.  Have a look at this map for the next 5 days from the Weather Prediction Center:

Between .75 and 1.25" inches of liquid over the next five days.  That will definitely get the grass and flowers going!

Here's an updated look at Tru-Track Doppler...

And here's the forecast for Jackson and surrounding areas including Rives Junction and Parma:

Have a wonderful day!  Blessings.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY ISSUED

The National Weather Service Grand Rapids has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for:

Eaton, Ingham, Clinton, Jackson counties until 8 PM for freezing rain up to a tenth of an inch that will impact evening drive.

Use caution if traveling!

Damp & Chilly - Flakes About?

What difference a day makes!

We've been spoiled with seasonable spring-like weather the last few days, now we pay for it.

Have a look at the latest composite image from Tru-Track Doppler radar.  Rain for us, not far north, freezing rain and even some light snow!

We're right around the freezing mark, so the computer is having a hard time sorting out rain from something frozen on the precipitation typing view!  It's just that close today.  32 degrees will get you rain/freezing rain, 31 should get you a bit of snow, even 33 could get you freezing rain, depending on how the air is stacked temperature-wise where you are.

Working on the forecasts for you now!

Best Of The Week Tomorrow!!!

Good Afternoon!

And what a fantastic afternoon it is here in Michigan.  Plenty of sunshine and temperatures into the 40's!  It gets better tomorrow.  Let's have a look and see what's running under here:

A GORGEOUS STRETCH:  Simply put, you'll love tomorrow.  The warmest readings we have had in the area since before winter started will be on the table.  I'm predicting a high of 61, with tons of sunshine, before clouds start working in on Tuesday.  From the perch here, the lowest temperature we see in the next several days is 43 on Thursday, so the snow should be disappearing all this week, at least during the daylight hours. Perhaps winter is FINALLY packing up to head back north, and allow us to get into our warm season.  Have a look at the temperatures around the nation as I write this...

You see that tongue of 50's and 60's reaching into the upper Plains now?  That will be here tomorrow!

If you look at the visible satellite image, all of that white is snow that's still on the ground, as well as ice that is thawing off the Great Lakes...

I don't need to show you radar right now - unless you like looking at ground clutter!

MIDWEEK:  As much as I hate to say, 60's are only here briefly.  Remember, average temperature in this part of the world is 52 degrees this time of year.  After Monday we'll be in that range for most of the week, with the exception of Thursday.  We'll also introduce some showers into the area as we progress through the week, Tuesday and Wednesday chances are very low, just enough to mention, chances go up some for Thursday.  We'll watch Wednesday, as a disturbance runs south of us, that may bring some scattered shower activity to the south zone of the blog.

A DAMP END TO THE WEEK:  Our increasing rain chances culminate in what appears to be a pretty damp Friday and Saturday, with a surface low coming out of Illinois to bring rain and cooler air down from Canada in time for the weekend.  As usual in the warm season, if you get nice weather you have to pay the piper at some point downstream!  Let's have a look at the WPC forecast map for rain to get a feel for what we may encounter:

You see here a half-inch of rain over the next week, so I'm saying not a washout by any stretch, but the second half of the week will see some chances of rain pretty much every day...

And here's the forecast for Jackson and surrounding areas including Vandercook Lake and Sandstone Township:

And here's the extended outlook, with a chance for a pretty wet back half of the week!

I hope you have a wonderful day! Blessings.