WEST MICHIGAN — After hitting 90° two days in a row in Grand Rapids with uncomfortable humidity levels, today will be a cooler, less humid day with plenty of sunshine. A cold front has made its way to the south of the FOX 17 viewing area, and that more comfortable air is flowing in as of this writing. In fact, dew point temperatures are as low as the upper 30s in some cases:
The dew point temperature is a direct measure of how much moisture is in the air. (The reason meteorologists use it is that warmer air has a greater capacity to hold moisture, so a relative humidity value of 70% means entirely different things if the temperature is 85° as opposed to 55°, for example. The dew point value gives us a more precise idea of how much moisture is in the air.) Yesterday at this time, dew points were in the lower to middle 60s which is in the “uncomfortable” range for most West Michiganders.
Actual air temperatures will be in the middle to upper 70s for highs across most of the area. Our Future Track HD model suggests we’ll be even cooler than that, with some spots — especially near the lakeshore — staying in the 60s:
Although I think this is a little cooler than we’ll actually be, you can clearly see the trend toward cooler, more comfortable air.
Humidity levels and storm chances, however, will be on the increase as we head into the middle of the week. A slow moving area of low pressure will meander from the Plains toward the Ohio River Valley this week. We’ll be on the northeastern fringe of the precipitation shield associated with this low for much of the time, but the potential still exists for some significant rain — especially on Wednesday.
