August 2017 Observations and Discussion

[westMJim]

While Texas is waiting for Harvey to make land fall here in Michigan the story is the early fall conditions. Here in IMBY I had a low of 45° and that is the coldest it has been since May 19^th when I had a low of 40° Officially at the airport the low was 47° and that also is the coldest since May 19^th   While it was very cool in our area off to the not too distance north it was darn right cold and frosty here are some of the colder overnight lows in the UP Doe Lake 26°, Baraga Plains 31° Ishpeming 33°, Spincich Lake 33°  In northern lower Michigan Atlanta (west of Alpena) 32° Grayling 32° Roscommon 29° Baldwin 35° Cadillac 36° So it was one cold night in in most of Michigan.  Also of note is that the average date for the first low of 47° here in Grand Rapids over the last 30 years is September 7^th other years where it has gotten as cool as 47° in August are 1997, 2004, 2009, and 2004. Last year it did not get this cool (47°) until October 8^th

[westMJim]

Only time I've ever read about August and September frosts disrupting the normal growing season up there so early was 1911 and maybe 1917. There were possibly frosts in one of those late-70s years too but I can't be sure. Gives me some new stuff to research.

Herman Michigan is a location that can and has gotten very cold very early in the year here is a little information on Herman

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman,_Michigan

At the Herman location here are some dates where the temperature has gotten to 28° in August. August  27^th 1968. August 15^th 1976. August 24^th 1977.  It has gotten down to 29° many more years August 20^th 1969, August 31^st 1970. August 23^rd 1971. August 6^th 1976. August 18^th 1977, August 15^th 1979 and August 18^th 2007. The coldest low on record at Herman for August (records only go back to 1968) was 27° on August 27^th 1968. The average first 32° day at Herman is September 5^th and has ranged from as early as August 2^nd in 1976 to as last as October 9^th last year.  

[Tom]

More chilly Augctober low's last night:

 

 

 

26° this AM at Doe Lake in Michigan's Upper Peninsula! Other frosty lows: 28° Stonington MI 29° Roscommon MI 30° Embarrass MN

[jaster220]

Indeed, Harvey looks healthy and strong. Good luck to those people down there.

 

Last hit for TX was Ike in '08, but Harvey would be the first hit by a Major 'cane in 12 yrs!  I knew it'd been a quiet stretch, but that's still a surprise. Guess 04 & 05 burned thru a decade's worth of Majors.   Those were obscene pair of tropical seasons to be sure!

 

Oh, and yesterday was the 25th anniversary of Andrew, the last CAT-5 hit on the CONUS (thankfully I might add).

[Tom]

12z Euro is off its Rockers....5 FEET of rain in TX...I pray for those in the path of Harvey...

 

[Tom]

The quintessential meaning of "when thunder roars, stay in doors!"...I guess these guys were rolling the dice with nature...crazy lightning strike!

 

https://petapixel.com/2017/08/24/lightning-strikes-feet-away-man-camera-rolling/?utm_content=buffer69d81&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer 

[Niko]

The quintessential meaning of "when thunder roars, stay in doors!"...I guess these guys were rolling the dice with nature...crazy lightning strike!

 

https://petapixel.com/2017/08/24/lightning-strikes-feet-away-man-camera-rolling/?utm_content=buffer69d81&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer 

Yup...mother nature neva plays around. Always respect weather.

[Tom]

Phenomenal strengthening of Hurricane Harvey as it just became a Cat 4 Major 'Cane with 130mp winds!  It has been a fascinating system to track since yesterday.

[St Paul Storm]

Phenomenal strengthening of Hurricane Harvey as it just became a Cat 4 Major 'Cane with 130mp winds! It has been a fascinating system to track since yesterday.

This thing is been a meteorological wonder. The rapid strengthening is unreal. Good thing this didn't form farther out in the open water where it would have more time to get the eye more organized. This would be a Cat 5 for sure. I just read that the 7 day predicted rainfall total for a location between Houston and Corpus Christi is the highest ever issued by the NWS. Truly a storm for the ages. I just helped coordinate the closing of our manufacturing plant in Houston. 15-25" of rain forecasted at the moment. If some of the new model runs are correct, those numbers could possibly double.

[Niko]

Harvey means business!!!!! Storm is projected to just stay put and not move much at all. Incredible amounts of rainfall anticipated. Good Luck to all those people down there.

[St Paul Storm]

Harvey on satellite is one of the biggest, well-defined storms I've ever seen. That eye looks like Katrina almost to a tee. Those people down there are going to need lots of help in the days and weeks ahead.

[Tom]

Jeff Piotrowski's live feed just outside the Eye Wall:

 

https://www.pscp.tv/Jeff_Piotrowski/1zqKVRbYXWWKB

[NEJeremy]

Jeff Piotrowski's live feed just outside the Eye Wall:

 

https://www.pscp.tv/Jeff_Piotrowski/1zqKVRbYXWWKB

The feed was amazing! Didn't watch it live but it got really nuts after about 1:00:00 in and then just before the end after 1:43:00 the building he was in collapsed!

[Niko]

Nice, crisp morning here IMBY. Tbh, it feels like mid October out there. Brrrr. Currently in the low 50s after a chilly 43F this morning. Ofc, places to my north probably saw a few 30s.

 

Btw: broke the record low last night.

[Tom]

Gosh, what is happening down in Texas mind boggling.  I have a friend who lives in Houston and he didn't evacuate because he felt comfortable enough living in a hilly area but I think that was probably a mistake.  That city is completely under water and with 10-25" of more rain to come, this storm will prob go down in the record books as the worst in history in terms of catastrophic flooding.  I mean, even if you don't get flooded, what are you going to do alone in your house for days, or even possibly weeks with no stores open??? SMH

[Tom]

I wasn't joking about this becoming a "Noah's Arc" scenario...almost Biblical rains in SE TX...already 2 FEET of rain in Houston!

 

 

NWS Houston‏

Verified account @NWSHouston

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Over the last 24 hours, NWS Houston/Galveston has received 24.10 inches of measured rain. #houwx #glswx

 

With another 15-20" on the table over the next 2 days.  You'd think the models were over done on the qpf amounts, but not this time.

[Minny_Weather]

Gosh, what is happening down in Texas mind boggling. I have a friend who lives in Houston and he didn't evacuate because he felt comfortable enough living in a hilly area but I think that was probably a mistake. That city is completely under water and with 10-25" of more rain to come, this storm will prob go down in the record books as the worst in history in terms of catastrophic flooding. I mean, even if you don't get flooded, what are you going to do alone in your house for days, or even possibly weeks with no stores open??? SMH

Hilly area? Houston is as flat as it gets. I know of people who have water in their homes. My old house got flooded there. One of the news stations had water entering the studio so they are broadcasting from the 2nd floor conference room now.

[Tom]

Hilly area? Houston is as flat as it gets. I know of people who have water in their homes. My old house got flooded there. One of the news stations had water entering the studio so they are broadcasting from the 2nd floor conference room now.

I just saw a picture of his street and its a flowing river.  His terminology of "hilly" prob isn't what you and I would understand as rolling hills.  From what I saw, he does not live on a hill!  I guess folks down there have different meanings of a "hilly" terrain.

[Tom]

This is the state of Houston's hwy system...umm, ya, your not getting anywhere unless you have a boat...

 

 

[Niko]

Harvey, downgraded to a TS is hardly moving. Its gonna be a rough couple of days down there.

[Niko]

Up here, nothing but sunshine and brisk.

[Minny_Weather]

This is the state of Houston's hwy system...umm, ya, your not getting anywhere unless you have a boat...

 

 

Being from Houston, I'll tell you that the city was built without flooding in mind. And it's a very flood prone city too. You think after Allison they'd learn. I get that Harvey would cause flooding regardless, but it's not hard to get a flood going there.

[Minny_Weather]

Meanwhile in Nebraska, pretty good lightning show this morning as a line passed to our South. Moderate rain here. Now it's cloudy and humid.

[Tom]

I hope we score some good rain here today and tomorrow. Things are getting dry and we need a good soaker.

[Thunder98]

I hope we score some good rain here today and tomorrow. Things are getting dry and we need a good soaker.

 

Appleton, WI still hasn't reach 90F+ this year and at this rate they likely won't. Every year this decade they have seen 90F+ and even 100F+ in 2012. There warmest temperature this August is only 86F.

 

Edited August 27, 2017 by Thunder98

[Tom]

Took a stroll around the neighborhood this morning and there are more trees starting to change color and now seeing fallen colorful leaves collecting on the ground. Thinking this will be enhanced drastically during the 1st week of September.

[Niko]

Took a stroll around the neighborhood this morning and there are more trees starting to change color and now seeing fallen colorful leaves collecting on the ground. Thinking this will be enhanced drastically during the 1st week of September.

Same here. I have seen some trees change colors as well. This could be indicative of a harsh Winter ahead.

[Niko]

Saw some pics on TWC's website and man, they are getting hit hard down there, especially, the Houston Metro area. Good luck to all those people down there. Be safe!

[Niko]

Currently some cloudcover in SEMI with temps in the low 70's, but nothing compare to our south neighbors in Texas.

[Niko]

I hear Irma could be lurking. Hope it stays away from Texas.

[Tom]

It's a little foggy/damp this morning from some overnight rain.  In fact, a large part of the Midwest is under a dense fog advisory.  Haven't seen this much fog in a long time.  Tis the season???

 

 

[Thunder98]

It's a little foggy/damp this morning from some overnight rain.  In fact, a large part of the Midwest is under a dense fog advisory.  Haven't seen this much fog in a long time.  Tis the season???

The DFA's are even in extreme NW Arkansas and NE Oklahoma.

[OKwx2k4]

If August fogs are any indication of winter (folklore), it's going to be rough, cold and snowy here. Counted 8 pretty serious fogs this month which is very very unusual.

 

Probably going to hold serious prognostications for any months (late fall and winter) after this back until I see how this month finishes and a how a good portion of September passes. This next 30 days are where the good years separated from the bad for my area in terms of temps and precip so watching closely.

[Niko]

Have to watch the remnants of Harvey reaching my area this weekend. So far, latest indications are that it will not reach this far north.

[WBadgersW]

Lots of funnel cloud reports coming in, non-tornadic of course. I've always loved summer days like this

[Tom]

Lots of funnel cloud reports coming in, non-tornadic of course. I've always loved summer days like this

Nice...ya, we are seeing storms start to fire up around here also along the boundaries...

 

http://climate.cod.edu/data/nexrad/LOT/N0Q/LOT.N0Q.20170828.2051.gif

[Niko]

Currently reporting t'stms in my area, finally. Torential downpours.

[Niko]

TS Irma is eyeing the i-95 corridor. Models might be looking at a more westward movement. Certainly no threat to Texas. That is some good news.

 

Speaking of Texas, Harvey continues to pound the state of Texas.

[jaster220]

If August fogs are any indication of winter (folklore), it's going to be rough, cold and snowy here. Counted 8 pretty serious fogs this month which is very very unusual.

Probably going to hold serious prognostications for any months (late fall and winter) after this back until I see how this month finishes and a how a good portion of September passes. This next 30 days are where the good years separated from the bad for my area in terms of temps and precip so watching closely.

I refuse to go out on that limb myself. Last yr is the reason. Snow advance index was strong (though lack of advance on our side of the globe was worrying me), we started with the unexpected over-performing storm on Dec 4th then had a fantastic stretch from the 8th to the 20th. All systems looked GO for a great season....then the wheels came off

[Thunder98]

The Warmest Temperature so far this year in Washington Island, Wisconsin is a tepid 83F. Summers on WA Island are usually in the mid 70's.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Island_(Wisconsin)#Climate