2001 Grand Rapids, Michigan (GRR)

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2001 GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN (GRR)

Grand Rapids, Michigan, is located in the west–central part of Kent County, in the picturesque Grand River valley about 30 air miles east of Lake Michigan. The Grand River, the longest stream in Michigan, flows through the city and bisects it into east and west sections. High hills rise on either side of the valley. Elevations range from 602 feet on the valley floor to 1,020 feet in the extreme southern part of Kent County, southwest of the airport.

Grand Rapids is under the natural climatic influence of Lake Michigan. In spring the cooling effect of Lake Michigan helps retard the growth of vegetation until the danger of frost has passed. The warming effect in the fall retards frost until most of the crops have matured. Fall is a colorful time of year in western Michigan, compensating for the late spring. During the winter, excessive cloudiness and numerous snow flurries occur with strong westerly winds. The tempering effect of Lake Michigan on cold waves coming in from the west and northwest is quite evident.

The tempering effect of the lake promotes the growth of a great variety of fruit trees and berries, especially apples, peaches, cherries, and blueberries. The intense cold of winter is modified, thus reducing winter kill of fruit trees. Summer days are pleasantly warm and most summer nights are quite comfortable, although there are about three weeks of hot, humid weather during most summers. Prolonged severe cold waves with below–zero temperatures are infrequent. The temperature usually rises to above zero during the daytime hours regardless of early morning readings.

July is the sunniest month and December is the month with the least sunshine. November through January is usually a period of excessive cloudiness and minimal sunshine.

Precipitation is usually ample for the growth and development of all vegetation. About one–half of the annual precipitation falls during the growing season, May through September. Droughts occur occasionally, but are seldom of protracted length. The snowfall season extends from mid–November to mid–March. Some winters have had continuous snow cover throughout this period, although there is usually a mid–winter thaw. The Grand River flows through the city and reaches critical heights a couple of times each year, generally once in January–February and again in March–April. Overflow is generally limited to the lowlands of the flood plain.

November is one of the windiest months and although violent windstorms are infrequent, gusts have on occasion exceeded 65 mph. Summer thunderstorms occasionally produce gusty winds over 60 mph.

NORMALS, MEANS, AND EXTREMES

GRAND RAPIDS, MI (GRR)

LATITUDE:    LONGITUDE:    ELEVATION (FT):    TIME ZONE:    WBAN: 94860

42 52′ 56″ N  85 31′ 23″ W  GRND: 785  BARO: 788  EASTERN (UTC + 5)

ELEMENTPORJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDECYEAR
TEMPERATURE FNORMAL DAILY MAXIMUM3029.031.642.856.669.378.782.880.572.059.845.833.556.9
MEAN DAILY MAXIMUM5429.732.542.356.869.378.682.580.472.560.946.134.157.1
HIGHEST DAILY MAXIMUM3862697888929810010093877769100
YEAR OF OCCURRENCE196719992000197019781995198819641973197519752001JUL 1988
MEAN OF EXTREME MAXS.5447.750.067.078.485.491.492.589.787.578.866.553.274.0
NORMAL DAILY MINIMUM3014.715.825.435.445.655.360.458.449.939.130.220.737.6
MEAN DAILY MINIMUM5415.817.125.135.946.255.960.459.050.940.831.321.338.3
LOWEST DAILY MINIMUM38-22-19-832233413927185-18-22
YEAR OF OCCURRENCE199419731978198219661972198319761991198819771983JAN 1994
MEAN OF EXTREME MINS.54-6.1-3.85.620.731.141.147.645.234.826.215.90.921.6
NORMAL DRY BULB3021.823.734.146.057.567.071.669.561.049.538.027.147.2
MEAN DRY BULB5422.824.833.746.357.767.271.469.761.850.838.827.747.7
MEAN WET BULB1722.724.531.341.652.160.964.964.156.643.535.926.943.8
MEAN DEW POINT1718.920.025.434.845.955.860.960.752.939.531.723.339.2
NORMAL NO. DAYS WITH:
MAXIMUM 90300.00.00.00.00.52.35.12.60.40.00.00.010.9
MAXIMUM 323019.315.35.80.40.00.00.00.00.00.02.314.357.4
MINIMUM 323029.426.123.911.92.20.00.00.00.36.117.327.9145.1
MINIMUM 0304.13.00.50.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.01.69.2
H/CNORMAL HEATING DEG. DAYS30133911569585702735001813948581011756973
NORMAL COOLING DEG. DAYS3000004011020815719000534
RHNORMAL (PERCENT)3077747167656870737675778073
HOUR 01 LST3080787674768082868682818280
HOUR 07 LST3081808079798184888985838383
HOUR 13 LST3072676356535556586162697562
HOUR 19 LST3076726659555757627172767967
SPERCENT POSSIBLE SUNSHINE3628394651566164615444272346
W/OMEAN NO. DAYS WITH:
HEAVY FOG (VISBY 1/4 MI)392.32.22.51.71.51.51.41.92.01.92.13.324.3
THUNDERSTORMS390.20.21.63.43.75.55.85.04.11.71.20.432.8
CLOUDINESSMEAN:
SUNRISE-SUNSET (OKTAS)
MIDNIGHT-MIDNIGHT (OKTAS)
MEAN NO. DAYS WITH:
CLEAR11.0
PARTLY CLOUDY11.02.0
CLOUDY11.01.0
PRMEAN STATION PRESSURE(IN)2829.2029.2029.1129.1029.1029.1029.1029.2029.2029.2129.2029.1929.16
MEAN SEA-LEVEL PRES. (IN)1530.0630.0630.0529.9529.9730.0129.9830.0330.0430.0730.0430.0730.03
WINDSMEAN SPEED (MPH)2611.410.611.211.09.78.88.47.88.19.310.510.59.8
PREVAIL. DIR (TENS OF DEGS)2725242525252424241818242024
MAXIMUM 2-MINUTE:
SPEED (MPH)645554352473851323947493855
DIR. (TENS OF DEGS)24242419262726272524232424
YEAR OF OCCURRENCE199619991999199919982000199920001997199619982001 FEB1999
MAXIMUM 5-SECOND:
SPEED (MPH)655645461605258384860664766
DIR. (TENS OF DEGS)24252325272229272525232423
YEAR OF OCCURRENCE199619991996199719981998199920001997199619982001 NOV1998
PRECIPITATIONNORMAL (IN)301.831.422.633.373.133.683.193.574.242.813.322.8536.04
MAXIMUM MONTHLY (IN)384.364.805.126.6910.018.218.838.4611.857.387.816.6311.85
YEAR OF OCCURRENCE197519971974199920011967199219871986200119661971 SEP1986
MINIMUM MONTHLY (IN)380.470.330.541.700.940.250.810.14T0.600.95TT
YEAR OF OCCURRENCE198119692001199719871988197619691979196419861952 SEP1979
MAXIMUM IN 24 HOURS (IN)382.163.051.782.665.484.033.683.684.553.193.002.795.48
YEAR OF OCCURRENCE199319971985199919811994199419871986199319901982 MAY1981
NORMAL NO. DAYS WITH:
PRECIPITATION 0.013016.211.912.813.010.410.09.29.410.211.113.116.5143.8
PRECIPITATION 1.00300.10.10.30.60.80.90.80.91.10.40.60.67.2
SNOWFALLNORMAL (IN)3021.311.99.93.10.*0.00.00.0T0.77.218.072.1
MAXIMUM MONTHLY (IN)3846.829.636.012.40.20.0TTT8.425.359.259.2
YEAR OF OCCURRENCE19991994196519821990199019931967196719912000 DEC2000
MAXIMUM IN 24 HOURS (IN)3816.19.113.29.80.20.0TTT8.410.415.116.1
YEAR OF OCCURRENCE19781985197019751990199019931967196719911970 JAN1978
MAXIMUM SNOW DEPTH (IN)5327211510000005112227
YEAR OF OCCURRENCE1978198519651975196719511951 JAN1978
NORMAL NO. DAYS WITH:
SNOWFALL 1.0306.94.12.90.90.00.00.00.00.00.12.56.023.4
PRECIPITATION (inches) 2001 GRAND RAPIDS, MI (GRR)
YEARJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDECANNUAL
19721.260.902.113.851.994.643.725.013.962.922.064.9637.38
19731.661.153.343.474.313.582.061.452.474.123.543.2834.43
19743.232.095.122.934.014.430.974.612.052.443.111.8336.82
19754.361.922.284.072.085.972.317.382.001.043.824.0241.25
19761.672.134.994.756.632.790.811.031.212.001.511.0530.57
19771.591.353.814.041.333.505.164.774.262.282.343.3537.78
19782.220.542.012.552.914.652.835.005.623.051.833.3236.53
19792.090.613.723.561.374.162.274.33T2.105.462.9732.64
19801.761.761.743.643.194.005.903.184.571.991.573.6036.90
19810.472.031.296.118.294.223.742.959.522.542.581.1044.84
19822.980.363.362.113.632.453.813.071.921.425.366.4936.96
19831.331.123.305.064.642.094.761.494.872.663.002.7937.11
19840.941.152.772.104.770.622.121.492.163.342.854.3728.68
19851.943.264.202.541.361.683.096.484.264.645.452.0040.90
19861.073.342.352.583.887.145.275.3011.852.760.951.0447.53
19870.670.371.152.400.943.562.938.464.472.332.493.2933.06
19882.391.142.123.111.070.253.693.047.495.374.821.8836.37
19890.951.012.471.794.335.021.294.784.901.534.860.9733.90
19902.392.081.962.234.393.003.733.404.225.057.142.9742.56
19911.320.643.585.584.441.766.243.792.935.616.412.6344.93
19921.521.063.513.981.451.618.833.555.602.345.643.2742.36
19934.211.132.314.932.176.051.837.738.204.322.121.4746.47
19942.681.701.463.252.647.178.077.392.383.295.441.1146.58
19952.730.941.493.852.853.976.113.101.542.784.371.5235.25
19961.180.900.962.414.836.331.280.332.722.761.402.4527.55
19972.634.801.401.703.052.761.951.994.852.021.490.9829.62
19984.091.504.932.751.862.112.491.702.492.982.271.2030.37
19993.541.490.966.692.463.812.883.223.211.000.952.3132.52
20001.021.091.333.988.654.674.062.316.311.852.822.0740.16
20010.712.580.542.0510.013.352.003.483.767.382.262.3740.49
POR=132 YRS2.191.852.473.043.393.582.992.873.532.822.782.3833.89
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE (F) 2001 GRAND RAPIDS, MI (GRR)
YEARJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDECANNUAL
197220.821.929.742.359.363.570.368.762.046.135.926.645.6
197327.422.841.946.853.769.972.472.763.455.039.926.249.3
197425.721.133.647.253.263.071.167.356.446.937.628.446.0
197525.224.328.839.860.767.670.670.557.053.044.727.347.5
197618.931.037.948.253.969.572.568.960.245.731.519.146.4
197712.722.840.052.165.864.574.067.962.948.639.525.948.1
197819.314.427.945.359.966.870.468.163.747.237.626.645.6
197917.115.036.944.557.767.671.168.563.451.540.533.047.2
198025.122.732.547.059.964.472.772.662.745.837.525.147.3
198120.830.235.147.355.568.672.170.760.948.239.828.748.2
198217.222.132.541.865.062.873.168.661.953.640.836.248.0
198327.630.936.942.652.867.774.772.262.450.740.719.248.2
198417.134.028.947.353.570.170.173.060.554.240.332.248.4
198518.621.336.251.760.463.870.767.463.650.638.422.347.1
198622.722.536.749.758.864.472.566.062.850.235.029.847.6
198725.429.937.350.162.671.274.169.362.245.041.131.550.0
198820.820.734.147.160.968.574.773.461.344.240.727.347.8
198930.519.731.843.955.865.971.968.459.451.135.717.245.9
199032.128.137.147.755.067.170.369.062.849.943.330.049.4
199122.229.237.950.864.671.272.470.560.152.035.729.449.7
199227.530.333.744.057.464.367.265.059.748.238.230.547.2
199325.921.932.444.058.265.272.771.456.548.037.927.846.8
199414.519.234.147.956.168.671.166.663.851.742.333.247.4
199526.523.237.042.856.469.872.574.859.151.432.024.247.5
199621.724.428.443.055.667.768.272.262.350.233.228.746.3
199721.627.334.644.150.368.370.866.161.149.935.631.146.7
199829.634.136.148.664.367.472.272.266.052.742.133.351.6
199921.231.432.948.861.069.474.767.862.749.543.630.449.5
200023.431.442.245.959.666.168.669.160.453.637.619.048.1
200125.525.932.550.059.666.371.371.659.350.446.833.949.4
POR=108 YRS24.024.734.146.658.067.872.570.462.851.539.128.348.3

REFERENCE NOTES:

PAGE 1:

THE TEMPERATURE GRAPH SHOWS NORMAL MAXIMUM AND NORMAL MINIMUM DAILY TEMPERATURES (SOLID CURVES) AND THE ACTUAL DAILY HIGH AND LOW TEMPERATURES (VERTICAL BARS).

PAGE 2 AND 3:

H/C INDICATES HEATING AND COOLING DEGREE DAYS.

RH INDICATES RELATIVE HUMIDITY

W/O INDICATES WEATHER AND OBSTRUCTIONS

S INDICATES SUNSHINE.

PR INDICATES PRESSURE.

CLOUDINESS ON PAGE 3 IS THE SUM OF THE CEILOMETER AND SATELLITE DATA NOT TO EXCEED EIGHT EIGHTHS (OKTAS).

GENERAL:

T INDICATES TRACE PRECIPITATION, AN AMOUNT GREATER THAN ZERO BUT LESS THAN THE LOWEST REPORTABLE VALUE.

+ INDICATES THE VALUE ALSO OCCURS ON EARLIER DATES.

BLANK ENTRIES DENOTE MISSING OR UNREPORTED DATA.

NORMALS ARE 30–YEAR AVERAGES (1961–1990).

ASOS INDICATES AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM.

PM INDICATES THE LAST DAY OF THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

POR (PERIOD OF RECORD) BEGINS WITH THE JANUARY DATA MONTH AND IS THE NUMBER OF YEARS USED TO COMPUTE THE MEAN. INDIVIDUAL MONTHS WITHIN THE POR MAY BE MISSING.

WHEN THE POR FOR A NORMAL IS LESS THAN 30 YEARS, THE NORMAL IS PROVISIONAL AND IS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF YEARS INDICATED.

0.* OR * INDICATES THE VALUE OR MEAN–DAYS–WITH IS BETWEEN 0.00 AND 0.05.

CLOUDINESS FOR ASOS STATIONS DIFFERS FROM THE NON–ASOS OBSERVATION TAKEN BY A HUMAN OBSERVER. ASOS STATION CLOUDINESS IS BASED ON TIME–AVERAGED CEILOMETER DATA FOR CLOUDS AT OR BELOW 12,000 FEET AND ON SATELLITE DATA FOR CLOUDS ABOVE 12,000 FEET.

THE NUMBER OF DAYS WITH CLEAR, PARTLY CLOUDY, AND CLOUDY CONDITIONS FOR ASOS STATIONS IS THE SUM OF THE CEILOMETER AND SATELLITE DATA FOR THE SUNRISE TO SUNSET PERIOD.

GENERAL CONTINUED:

CLEAR INDICATES 0–2 OKTAS, PARTLY CLOUDY INDICATES 3–6 OKTAS, AND CLOUDY INDICATES 7 OR 8 OKTAS. WHEN AT LEAST ONE OF THE ELEMENTS (CEILOMETER OR SATELLITE) IS MISSING, THE DAILY CLOUDINESS IS NOT COMPUTED.

WIND DIRECTION IS RECORDED IN TENS OF DEGREES (2 DIGITS) CLOCKWISE FROM TRUE NORTH. "00" INDICATES CALM. "36" INDICATES TRUE NORTH.

RESULTANT WIND IS THE VECTOR AVERAGE OF THE SPEED AND DIRECTION.

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IS THE SUM OF THE MEAN DAILY MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURE DIVIDED BY 2.

SNOWFALL DATA COMPRISE ALL FORMS OF FROZEN PRECIPITATION, INCLUDING HAIL.

A HEATING (COOLING) DEGREE DAY IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE AVERAGE DAILY TEMPERATURE AND 65 F.

DRY BULB IS THE TEMPERATURE OF THE AMBIENT AIR.

DEW POINT IS THE TEMPERATURE TO WHICH THE AIR MUST BE COOLED TO ACHIEVE 100 PERCENT RELATIVE HUMIDITY.

WET BULB IS THE TEMPERATURE THE AIR WOULD HAVE IF THE MOISTURE CONTENT WAS INCREASED TO 100 PERCENT RELATIVE HUMIDITY.

ON JULY 1, 1996, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BEGAN USING THE "METAR" OBSERVATION CODE THAT WAS ALREADY EMPLOYED BY MOST OTHER NATIONS OF THE WORLD. THE MOST NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE IN THIS ANNUAL PUBLICATION WILL BE THE CHANGE IN UNITS FROM TENTHS TO EIGHTS (OKTAS) FOR REPORTING THE AMOUNT OF SKY COVER.

HEATING DEGREE DAYS (base 65 F) 2001 GRAND RAPIDS, MI (GRR)
YEARJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDECJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNTOTAL
1972-73284112657786711851162117870855234146769
1973-74171363147481196121212259675323641136815
1974-755222755558161127122711331113750191617275
1975-7616524238260211611420980835526342186529
1976-77032185591999141516161177765401106917378
1977-78348995017591204140714131140584213627433
1978-791522124545816118214771393863607264427350
1979-807311094317319841230122110005411891066580
1980-81041155888211227136396991952529886837
1981-827517351374911161475119699868991987110
1982-836341403617178841151949866663373616205
1983-84162149440721141314808921107532353137118
1984-85164189333735101414311216886428173816506
1985-86917157436790131613021186871466214756839
1986-87115611845289410841220978849440178206300
1987-881836118610712103213641277950531169606877
1988-893211356397221162106212631023625297517003
1989-90223203424874147710141026865549306456808
1990-91111513947564510771323997830430157186117
1991-9254211404871109811551001964626262756676
1992-9325661975127941060120412031004624227847000
1993-94116259524810115015611274950520297427404
1994-950469440567598011861165860659265286363
1995-961402124179821260133711661130653320297520
1996-97102147451944111913381048935616448247082
1997-988431364738761046109185889948676986090
1998-9902583806829751353940989481156496065
1999-0011711647463410661282971706567213646111
2000-0115191993488151420121810891001444189806837
2001-201194449538955
COOLING DEGREE DAYS (base 65 F) 2001 GRAND RAPIDS, MI (GRR)
YEARJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDECANNUAL
19720000376120016342000503
1973000100157238255961200768
1974000466020110323300400
197500006514819918481500619
197600027415823916149000638
1977000191378528614344000714
197800006212318812590000588
1979000046129204147691900614
19800006349624724553000681
198100001312423619055000618
198200009940263153551200622
19830000214632523476500788
19840007517417925960600690
198500036395219399119000538
19860001426642529461000511
1987000211021330617438000843
198800005017031028929200850
19890000198422313540000501
1990006376115185144831300589
19910001215521124018271700878
199200023660997444100316
19930000219424422210500596
1994000132915919610265100565
19950000517925231540600797
199600003311811623074000571
19970000013119481261300445
199800906217723023395400810
199900033918630811055000701
200000204810213215466200506
200100002712822321230300623
SNOWFALL (inches) 2001 GRAND RAPIDS, MI (GRR)
YEARJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDECJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNTOTAL
1972-730.00.00.00.911.019.87.013.28.55.00.10.065.5
1973-740.00.00.00.00.420.013.318.411.31.0T0.064.4
1974-750.00.00.00.48.916.510.710.611.810.00.00.068.9
1975-760.00.00.00.06.623.325.06.53.54.20.10.069.2
1976-770.00.00.02.08.517.726.15.09.52.00.00.070.8
1977-780.00.00.00.010.623.235.88.86.2T0.00.084.6
1978-790.00.00.0T6.230.045.55.37.21.80.00.096.0
1979-800.00.00.0T9.42.613.312.66.64.0T0.048.5
1980-810.00.00.00.45.517.38.118.81.4T0.00.051.5
1981-820.00.00.0T4.48.930.36.711.812.40.00.074.5
1982-830.00.00.00.05.28.25.72.913.20.70.00.035.9
1983-840.00.00.0T4.734.819.61.610.60.1T0.071.4
1984-850.00.00.00.0T15.722.621.36.73.30.00.069.6
1985-860.00.00.00.03.530.718.420.26.10.20.00.079.1
1986-870.00.00.00.05.312.719.20.95.73.80.00.047.6
1987-880.00.00.01.60.718.221.918.13.40.30.00.064.2
1988-890.00.00.00.25.514.48.725.16.32.2T0.062.4
1989-900.00.00.05.819.425.210.623.82.72.10.20.089.8
1990-91T0.00.0T2.018.627.79.52.8T0.00.060.6
1991-920.00.00.00.325.327.913.43.515.12.30.00.087.8
1992-930.00.00.02.34.214.211.118.611.63.30.00.065.3
1993-940.0T0.0T1.917.725.329.61.9T0.10.076.5
1994-950.00.00.00.00.68.921.618.64.40.80.00.054.9
1995-960.00.00.0T20.817.413.56.919.31.80.00.079.7
1996-970.00.00.00.05.622.845.514.05.23.5T0.096.6
1997-980.00.00.02.410.111.520.30.513.80.00.00.058.6
1998-990.00.00.00.00.27.546.88.014.2TT0.076.7
1999-000.00.00.00.118.415.711.50.66.8T0.0
2000-010.00.00.00.019.059.24.17.44.10.2T0.094.0
2001-0.00.00.00.5T53.9
POR=37 YRSTTT0.87.719.520.511.79.32.50.20.072.2

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