GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Feeling like summer in late October! Temperatures soared into the 70s on Tuesday, even cracking 80° in spots, which is record warmth for October 29. West Michigan will continue the record warmth into Wednesday before a cold front arrives on Thursday.
Grand Rapids (79°), Muskegon (75°), Holland (79°), Kalamazoo (80°) and Battle Creek (79°) all achieved new record high temperatures for October 29.
In Muskegon, the previous record high of 74°F was set 128 years ago in 1896! In Grand Rapids, the previous record high of 77°F was set in 1901, 123 years ago. Meanwhile, the previous record highs in Holland, Kalamazoo and Battle Creek were set in 1999.
To put this in perspective, average high temperatures in late October are in the middle 50s, with average low temperatures in the upper 30s. The warmth West Michigan is experiencing is 20° to 25° above average!
Tonight, temperatures will only fall into the middle 60s, which will shatter the record warm low for October 30 across all climate sites in West Michigan.
Temperatures on Wednesday will soar into the 70s to 80°, which will be near record highs for October 30. At Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, the current record high for October 30 goes back to 1950.
The abnormal temperatures can be accredited to a strong ridge over the eastern half of the United States. Stout winds, out of the southwest, are drawing in the warm airmass and allowing record temperatures during the day and at night. The ridge is also suppressing precipitation, allowing partly cloudy sky coverage.
The warmth will come to an end by the end of the week as a cold front sweeps through the Great Lakes on Thursday (Halloween). Temperatures will reach the 60s on Thursday, which is well above average but not record-setting. The colder airmass will settle in by Friday, with daytime temperatures only reaching the lower 50s.
You can check the latest forecast from the 13 Impact Weather Team HERE.
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