March goes into weather history books as warmest ever in Michigan

[marmar]

AP, via the Detroit Free Press:



The National Weather Service says last month was the warmest March on record across Michigan.

Records go back to different years in places, but weather service offices in Grand Rapids, Gaylord, Marquette and the Detroit area all report a record-breaking March. Highs got in the 70s and 80s in places.

In Grand Rapids, the average temperature of 50.7 degrees topped the previous record set in 1945 of 45.9 degrees. In suburban Detroit, the average of 50.7 degrees broke the 1945 mark of 47.9 degrees. In Traverse City, the average of 46.8 degrees surpassed the 1946 record of 41.5 degrees.

The record also was broken in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, where an average temperature of 39.7 degrees topped the March 2010 record of 34.7 degrees. ...............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.freep.com/article/20120402/NEWS06/120402013/March-weather-history-warmest-ever-in-Michigan?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

[rurallib]

1. Wow - the records were not just broken but shattered

by 4 to 6 degrees.
I heard yesterday that the tulips had already bloomed in Holland, Mich. What are they going to do for their Tulip festival?

[marmar]

3. "What are they going to do for their Tulip festival?"

At this rate, palm trees and hibiscus.

[catbyte]

8. They've been trying to dig up as many tulip bulbs as possible and replanting

But it looks like they're acknowledging that it's a lost cause. I heard on the news this morning they're recommending folks come this month to see the tulips and just celebrate tulips in May. I really feel bad for the fruit growers, though. The orchards are in spectacular bloom now--a good 6 weeks ahead of schedule. If we get a sustained hard freeze, the apple crop will be wiped out. The daffodils, hyacinths, & tulips are gorgeous. They mowed the lawn in our apartment complex on Friday and I have been able to pick some catnip from the little clumps by my front door for my guys. I've NEVER seen that before in all my 56 years on the planet.

It's spooky and anyone who thinks this is normal is delusional.

Diane
Anishinaabe in MI & mom to Leo, Sophie, Taz & Nigel, members of Dogs Against Romney, Cat Division
"We ride inside--HISS!”

[knitter4democracy]

5. I haven't seen anything in our local news yet about it.

The tulips will be done and gone by then. Most of them around here are towards the end. We're a month to a month-and-a-half early in all of the growing seasons. It's creepy, and everyone I talk to says the same: we're waiting for the other shoe to drop like a severe frost or a huge snowstorm or something weird.

[MineralMan]

2. Same in Minnesota.

Weird year, all around.

[spanone]

4. tennessee too.

[xchrom]

6. Du rec. Nt

[longship]

7. Typical MI March usually includes snow

often heavy snow! But we had very little precip this last winter, and I cannot remember a single below zero temp. Most unusual.