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Variety will ensure blooms for Tulip Time, organizers say
HOLLAND, Mich. (WOOD) — Organizers of Tulip Time are hoping for cooler weather to slow blooming so more flowers reach peak bloom May 1, when the Holland festival begins. Warm weather — like we'll see this week — is a factor in causing some of the tulips to open early. But while some are in full bloom, many are not, which is what festival organizers want. If too many bloom early, wind and hail can knock off the flower petals. “We're hoping that the weather cools off a little bit so that they don't continue to grow as rapidly as they do when it's 70 degrees out,” Tulip Time Executive Director Gwen Auwerda said Monday. Tulip Time releases festival lineup The executive director of Tulip Time says organizers plant a variety of bulbs and make as many preparations as possible. “We're about 5% in bloom of all the tulips that we have in town, so that's not bad. Pretty typical for this time of year. We keep looking at the 10-day forecast every day to see what’s going to happen,” Auwerda said. Early tulip blooms in Holland. (April 13, 2026) Early tulip blooms in Holland. (April 13, 2026) Early tulip blooms in Holland. (April 13, 2026) Early tulip blooms in Holland. (April 13, 2026) Early tulip blooms in Holland. (April 13, 2026) Not every factor can be controlled. “Sunlight definitely plays into it. The weather is the next factor. There's so many varieties of tulips and we plant over 100 varieties throughout the city. There's early, mid- and late blooming tulips. We learn as we pick a tulip and say, 'This will be great. Let's try it,'” Auwerda said. How close the bulbs are planted to downtown Holland's heated sidewalks can also speed up development. “We're fortunate that we live here; that when the tulips bloom, we can go out and see them when it happens,” area resident Fred Derheimer said. He and his wife Terri Derheimer have seen many Tulip Times and are not too worried, even if some of the flowers are already in bloom. “I bet we have tulips for Tulip Time because it looks like, to me, the early ones are blooming, but we'll still have some in May,” Terri Derheimer said. Tulip Time sets grand marshals for parades Even with some festivals in previous years losing some flowers early, visitors managed to have fun. “People still came because they don't they didn't know. They come from far away and they're hoping for the tulips but I do remember you know there were T-shirts that were printed that said 'stem fest' on it and you just got to go with the flow, I guess,” Terri Derheimer said. Still, festival organizers are optimistic for a great tulip variety for visitors this year. “We have like 4.5 million tulips planted throughout the city and our attractions, so there's always going to be something blooming for three to four weeks," Auwerda said. "So don't panic."
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Floodwaters now less than 12 inches away from top of Cheboygan Dam
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Water levels have risen to within a foot of the top of the Cheboygan Dam, triggering the first step of safety protocols in the area. The Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement early Monday morning, walking nearby residents through the state’s protocols. The Cheboygan Dam is at the “Ready” stage of the “Ready, Set, Go” protocols. Sign up for the Storm Team 8 daily forecast newsletter According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the first stage is triggered “when water is 12 inches below the top of the dam with levels rising 3 inches a day or more.” The DNR recommends all residents in the area plan and pack for an evacuation. A “go-bag” should include medications and any important documents. The sheriff's office also recommends securing outdoor items and moving valuables to higher levels. People should avoid riverbanks and any low-lying areas and monitor nearby officials for updates. The area has been hit hard in recent weeks with spring rains and melting snow. It received a record snowfall in March. With more rain in the forecast, the DNR activated five pumps to divert water around the dam and is working to secure more. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency for the area on Friday and activated the State Emergency Operations Center. An aerial photo of the high water levels at the Cheboygan Dam on April 12, 2026. (Courtesy Cheboygan County Sheriff's Office) The “Ready” stage is the first of three in the state protocols. Stage 2 is when the floodwaters reach 6 inches below the top of the dam with water levels rising at least 3 inches per day. Stage 3 is when the floodwaters reach 1 inch below the top of the dam and a high probability of dam failure. The DNR recommends everyone follow evacuation orders and look for roadblocks that will be placed around the dam’s perimeter. In addition to social media posts, evacuation orders will also be sent using FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert & Warning System.
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Active pattern this week will lead to chances of heavy rain, severe storms
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Warmer temperatures, heavy rain and storms can be a hallmark of spring, and that's what West Michigan will experience this week. Inside woodtv.com: Radar The upper and lower level flow will be able to extract and transport a lot of Gulf moisture that will get wrung out over the Great Lakes. Severe weather and heavy rain can go hand in hand, and Storm Team 8 believes we'll have to deal with both this week. MONDAY The first round of severe weather arrives Monday evening as a warm front lifts across the region. A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for far southern Michigan until 10 p.m. The main concern with this batch of storms will be damaging wind and hail, primarily between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. SPC has updated the risk level to include both a marginal risk (1 out of 5) and a slight risk (2 out of 5). Hail fell in Hastings Monday evening and viewers submitted photos to News 8. Some were even larger than the size of a quarter. TUESDAY The more likely time for severe weather appears to be overnight Tuesday as a warm front bisects Lower Michigan. The main timing would fall between 8 p.m. and 12 a.m. once again. This time around, all three severe weather risks will be in play, including the chance of tornadoes. A slight risk (level 2) is in place across most of lower Michigan. An enhanced risk (level 3) is likely to be moved into West Michigan by Tuesday. ReportIt: Send us your photos WEDNESDAY It doesn't happen often, but we'll be in play for the chance of severe weather three consecutive days. A marginal risk (level 1) clips the area. The main timing would likely fall into the evening hours once again. However, it does seem that the area may miss the worst this go around. Download the free Storm Team 8 weather app Flooding has already been an issue and will likely continue that way this week with more heavy rain likely. It's already been an exceptionally wet March and April so far. Most of central and southern Michigan are over 200% average rainfall. That makes this week's rainfall forecast rather daunting, with the bullseye of the heaviest rain centered across Lower Michigan. It's no surprise that a flood watch has been issued for much of the northern section of the state. This will likely be modified through the week and could be extended further south, so stay with Storm Team 8 for updates.
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Active pattern sets up with several rounds of showers and thunderstorms
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — April showers have followed a very soggy March with more rain on the way this week for West Michigan. Warm, humid air will stay in place all week with several rounds of showers and storms through Thursday. Some downpours could lead to localized flooding. A severe weather threat is possible Tuesday morning and again late Tuesday night. SUNDAY NIGHT Rain will move through Michigan, with the heaviest totals north of Big Rapids, and Flood Watches are in effect for much of the northern Lower Peninsula as well as the Upper Peninsula. An additional 1 to 2 inches of rain is expected overnight in those locations, with only light to moderate rain in West Michigan. Showers are expected to clear just after sunrise. MONDAY Expect mostly cloudy skies with a warm and fairly humid springtime air mass. The ingredients will be in place for a severe storm, but it has lower-tier potential, with much of the day delivering dry weather. The most likely scenario is that severe thunderstorms develop in Minnesota and Wisconsin on Monday afternoon, then move into West Michigan late Monday night into Tuesday morning. If storms can retain some of their intensity during their trip across Lake Michigan, there's a risk of hail and heavy rain. TUESDAY Tuesday brings the best chance of severe weather this week. Cloud cover may limit our potential, but if thunderstorms develop, all modes of severe weather, including large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes will be possible. The Storm Prediction Center has all of West Michigan contained in a slight risk (level 2 out of 5). The most likely timeframe for severe storms appears to be the evening to early overnight. Stay alert for changing conditions and have a way to receive watch and warning information if you plan to be outside. MOVING FORWARD It's going to stay on the warmer side throughout this week as rounds of rain and thunderstorms plug through. Temperatures will consistently top off in the 70s with dew points in the 50s and 60s, lending a muggy feeling to the air that we haven't experienced much so far in 2026. River levels are expected to slowly subside after peaking last week. However, with another heavy dose of rain projected over the next several days, Storm Team 8 will continue to closely monitor the situation.
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Artemis II splashes down, astronauts return to Earth
(NEXSTAR) – Artemis II's voyage into space came to an exciting conclusion Friday with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The team's Orion capsule, dubbed "Integrity," splashed down at 5:07 p.m. PT, about 60 miles off the coast of San Diego. The crew returning are NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, as well as Jeremy Hansen with the Canadian Space Agency. Artemis II reentry: Will a sonic boom be heard? Their 10-day voyage marks our first return to the moon in more than 50 years. Upon landing, all eyes were on the capsule’s life-protecting heat shield that had to withstand thousands of degrees during reentry. On the only other test flight of the spacecraft — in 2022, with no one on board — the shield’s charred exterior came back looking as pockmarked as the moon. Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen hit the atmosphere traveling Mach 33 — or 32 times the speed of sound — a blistering blur not seen since NASA’s Apollo moonshots of the 1960s and 1970s. In this image from video provided by NASA, the Artemis II Orion capsule splashes down in the Pacific Ocean, on Friday, April 10, 2026. (NASA via AP)In this photo provided by NASA, recovery teams approach the Orion spacecraft carrying Artemis II crewmembers after splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, Friday, April 10, 2026. (Joel Kowsky/NASA via AP) Upon landing, Commander Wiseman reported "four green crew members," which indicated that all four astronauts aboard the capsule were in good health. The astronauts did not immediately exit the capsule, instead, Integrity bobbed afloat in the Pacific for some time after splash down, as the crew waited for power down. The Integrity's hatch finally opened nearly one hour after splashdown. To retrieve the astronauts, Navy divers inflated a massive raft called "the front porch," to give them time to adjust to gravitational movement. From there, they were hoisted into hovering choppers for a full medical evaluation. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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‘Outpouring of support’ helps Three Rivers continue tornado cleanup
THREE RIVERS, Mich. (WOOD) — More than a month after an EF2 tornado sent trees through homes, mangled fencing and shredded brush in Three Rivers, many damaged houses still have boards over windows and tarps over the gashes. But there's still a sense of persevering and rebuilding, unshaken by the winds. Jean Nierodzinski might not walk her dog at Riverside Cemetery like others, but she knows what it's like to take a moment of refuge and enjoy its view. "I'd come through here just to take a drive because it was so nice. There's a spot down by the river that has a bench where you could sit and look out at the lake or the river coming through and it was just gorgeous," she said. How NWS meteorologists tracked deadly tornado outbreak After the March 6 storm, the cemetery was inaccessible. The once-lush green canopy it was known for was transformed in a matter of minutes. Seventy trees were uprooted, with 10 too damaged to stay up. "It's sad to see all these trees that are gone that were in here, so hopefully they can get it back and we'll get it back to looking immaculate," Nierodzinski said. She was among about a dozen local United Auto Workers union members from American Axel to take part in a cleanup at the cemetery Thursday afternoon. They were joined by other community members. "We know how much it means for the community to come out and help out. We work in this community. We're not just workers here; we're going to come out and help support them," Nierodzinski said. Volunteer crews clean up Riverside Cemetery in Three Rivers. (April 9, 2026)Volunteer crews clean up Riverside Cemetery in Three Rivers. (April 9, 2026)Volunteer crews clean up Riverside Cemetery in Three Rivers. (April 9, 2026) Outside of the cemetery's mangled fence, the roads are passable and debris left on curbsides has been picked by the city. "We needed to open up the roadways, make sure that the power company could actually restore power to the areas, and just get traffic flow back to some sort of normal so that the residents could bring contractors in to take care of their own property and home," Three Rivers Public Services Director Amy Roth said. ‘We’re going for a ride now’: How survivors rode out the Union Lake tornado Roth said the challenge was not just the piles of bush, but also adjusting maintenance plans the department was already looking toward. "Our biggest tasks now are taking care of the stumps, both in the cemetery and in the public right of way," Roth said. Add to the list uprooted sidewalks caused by fallen trees. But the help shown at the cemetery makes the weight a bit lighter. "We are so thankful for everybody that cares about our cemetery and just has the passion that we also have for it and to care for our loved ones who are out here," Roth said. ‘A blessing’: Volunteers help cleanup efforts in Three Rivers In the weeks since, Roth said she has been amazed at the out-of-state volunteers who are still flocking to the region, some traveling from as far as Texas and Oklahoma. "It feels amazing to have the outpouring of support that we've seen both inside the community and all over the United States. We are so thankful for everyone that cares for this town and has helped us so far," she said. As neighborhoods rebuild, Niersonzinski said there's comfort in working together. "It's just they want to show each other support and a lot of times we don't get that. And I think that's what we need and it just makes everybody come together and feel better," she said.
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March 2026 is the hottest on record in the lower 48 states
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — While spring is emerging in West Michigan, it's already felt like the middle of summer for parts of the nation. The lower 48 states broke the record for the hottest March, which was last set back in 2012. The temperature measured 9.4 degrees above average, marking the first time that any month has exceeded average on a nationwide basis by more than 9 degrees. The heat was most pronounced in the western half of the country, where a ridge of high pressure set up, creating prolonged hot and dry weather. Download the free Storm Team 8 weather app Ten states experienced their hottest March on record: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. Locally, temperatures for the month of March in West Michigan were above average but not to the same extremes, measuring approximately 3 to 5 degrees above what is typical. With West Michigan sitting on the edge of the heat dome affecting the western United States, sharp temperature changes made for wet conditions plus an active start to the severe weather season. The EF3 tornado which struck Union City on March 6 was the earliest instance of an EF3 or greater tornado in the state's recorded history. How NWS meteorologists tracked deadly tornado outbreak In the short term, April is trending near average on temperatures, but rain is likely to stay prevalent with heightened flood concerns in the coming weeks. Neighbors paddle down flooded street along Grand River National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center's April Outlook A strong El Niño is anticipated to take shape moving into this summer, which will likely prolong warmer-than-average conditions across a broad area of the country, including West Michigan.
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2026 Atlantic hurricane season forecast: ‘Somewhat below-average’ activity
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) - A much-anticipated 2026 Atlantic hurricane forecast was released Thursday, with researchers predicting "a somewhat below-average" season. Colorado State University tropical weather specialists cited a likely transition to the El Niño climate pattern in the coming months as the driving factor behind their forecast. Caribbean hurricanes getting substantially stronger due to warming waters: study Forecasters said El Niño will cause increased levels of vertical wind shear in the tropical Atlantic, creating an unfavorable environment for storms that feed on moist air. They also pointed to slightly cooler than normal sea surface temperatures in the eastern and central Atlantic, although temperatures in the western Atlantic are warmer than normal, which would favor above-normal activity. With those factors in mind, CSU researchers predicted that 13 named storms will develop in the Atlantic this season. Of those storms, six will become hurricanes, with two reaching major hurricane status (Category 3 and above). Forecast ParametersCSU Forecast for 2026Average for 1991-2020Named Storms1314.4Named Storm Days5569.4Hurricanes67.2Hurricane Days2027.0Major Hurricanes23.2Major Hurricane Days57.4Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE)+90123ACE West of 60 degrees longitude5073 CSU is also forecasting a below-average probability for major hurricane landfalls along the U.S. coast and in the Caribbean. There is a 15% chance for landfall along the U.S. East Coast, including the Florida Peninsula (average from 1880–2020 is 21%), and a 20% chance for the Gulf Coast from the Florida Panhandle westward to Brownsville, Texas (average is 27%). CSU researchers noted that their April forecast is typically less accurate than those they release later in the year. They will issue their next forecast update on June 10, just days after the start of the season, with additional updates expected on July 8 and Aug. 5. "Their forecast calls for a slightly below average season with El Niño being a factor for the below average forecast," WFLA Meteorologist Amanda Holly said. "However, water temperatures are providing mixed signals with both below average and above average temps being detected right now." National Hurricane Center unveils new forecast cone Holly said that although the early forecast may be encouraging to coastal residents, they should still continue with their preparations as normal. "Either way, we always say it only takes one storm to make it a bad season, and we should be prepared heading into June 1," Holly said.
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Chief Meteorologist Ellen Bacca (and husband Mark) welcomed their first child over the weekend, with the birth of Piper Sunny. Check out these sweet pictures<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hurricane Lee continues to slowly track toward the United States. Click here for the latest on intensity and path<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saturday brought plenty of sunshine and calm conditions. Bill’s Blog dives into what is currently the calmest day of 2023.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
WEATHER WEAR<\/strong>
Rain Jacket
Umbrella<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SUNRISE<\/strong> 7:17 a.m.
SUNSET<\/strong> 7:59 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.
PSALM 18:28 NIVGrand Rapids / Lakeshore
Kalamazoo
Battle Creek
Benton Harbor