GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — We’ve seen three separate “heat waves” in West Michigan already this summer, and there are more 90s are on the way.
The polar jet stream continues to retreat into Canada this summer, allowing warm to hot air to flood into West Michigan. In summertime, the polar jet stream usually stays north of West Michigan, but its placement has been especially extensive this year.
There have been 11 90-degree days so far this year: three in May, four in June and four so far in July. We usually see only eight days over 90 degrees.
There have also been summers completely devoid of 90s in West Michigan, like 2014. There were only two 90s in 2015. 2016 featured 11 90s, many of which arrived late in the year between Sept. 21 and 26. Last year pulled in a whopping 19 90-degree days.
Also notable this year has been the humidity. The first week of July featured unusually high humidity levels. Dew points climbed into the 70s as air from the Gulf of Mexico streamed in. Grand Rapids even picked up a five-hour stretch with a dew point of 77 degrees. That has only happened five times in the last 55 years.
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