Jan 4 – Feb 2, 2019:
Up until this last week SW Michigan has had a relativity mild winter. That ended as the Midwest states were struck by a polar vortex. Here in SW Michigan it started Monday with a lake effect snow squall that dumped anywhere from 4 to 8 inches of snow on the roadways. A snow emergency was declared at noon in Benton harbor and businesses closed early. A state emergency was declared by the governor due to the sub-zero expected temperatures.
High temperatures on Wednesday were expected to stay well below zero and we were not disappointed. The outside temperature with the wind chill factored in was a negative 45°F. At this temperature frostbite and hypothermia sets in very quickly as in only a few minutes.
The vortex passed thru in a day or two and the temperature rose to 20°F on Friday and the high 30’s on Saturday. Sunday was a balmy 42°F but no sun. As a side note, Australia is experiencing record temperatures of +115°F, neither of these extremes do I care to experience.
Here are a few pictures showing the changes from Jan 4 to Feb 2.