Northeast Michigan Alleviates Drought with April Rainfall
ALPENA — After months of drought conditions, Northeast Michigan has seen a welcome shift in weather patterns, thanks to increased precipitation in recent weeks. According to Joe Delizio, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gaylord, the area has transitioned from severe drought to no drought primarily due to rainfall over the past month and a half.
While April’s precipitation levels fell slightly below average—recording only 1.44 inches against the expected 2.93 inches—the much-anticipated moisture has brought relief to the region. However, weather data for early April was compromised due to a severe ice storm that hit on March 28, knocking out power for tens of thousands and causing significant damage to property and the local landscape.
Delizio noted, “There was some damage…we couldn’t get that data exactly.” The ice storm, while destructive, contributed to the much-needed moisture in the area.
Recent severe weather, including strong winds and heavy rain passing through Alpena, caused some confusion regarding storm classifications. Delizio clarified that while conditions mimicked tornado activity with winds peaking at 54 mph, there were no signs of rotating winds, indicating that the damage was due to straight-line winds rather than a tornado.
Despite the unusual weather, April also recorded one of its warmest temperatures at 80 degrees, while overall temperatures were above the long-term average. The month concluded with only 0.4 inches of snow, significantly less than the typical 6.6 inches.
For more updates, contact Kayla Wikaryasz at kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.
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