Storm Team 8 (test-feed)
app feed
-
Easter holiday weekend brings wet, cooler weather
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Another round of soaking rain is on track for West Michigan, followed by chilly conditions Easter Sunday. Inside woodtv.com: Radar GOOD FRIDAY Mostly cloudy, but comfortable weather will be with us to start off the weekend. Travel conditions should cooperate, though there will be a few pockets of fog following Thursday's heavy downpours. Temperatures are on track to rise into the lower and mid-50s which is seasonable for early April. A light breeze pushes through from the west between 10 and 20 mph. Late Friday night, another system is reeled in from southwest to northeast, bringing together showers and thunderstorms. The chance of severe weather occurring is low, but not quite zero. Points near and south of I-94 have a marginal risk (level 1 out of 5) with downpours and hail being the concerns if storms are able to pulse up. Download the free Storm Team 8 weather app SATURDAY Wet weather will be prevalent Saturday with showers and thunderstorms rolling through. Rain should be heaviest during the morning hours, with more scattered activity carrying over into the afternoon. Rainfall totals will likely be substantial, with close to an inch of accumulation. Easter egg hunts may be on the soggy and muddy side of things as we head into Sunday morning. Temperatures are set to peak in the early afternoon around 60 degrees before falling off later in the day with the wind gaining strength from the WNW. EASTER SUNDAY Expect relatively cold weather for the Easter holiday. Make sure to bundle up the little ones for Easter egg hunts and activities in the morning. Winter coats, gloves, and hats are encouraged with temperatures Easter morning close to the freezing point. List: Easter egg hunts, events in West Michigan Wind gusts may top 30 mph, which will yield wind chills in the 20s. With the wind directed from the northwest, we may be able to kick up just a few lake-effect snow showers and flurries, but these should remain light enough that travel won't be impacted. The afternoon hours on Easter Sunday should be marginally more pleasant, with the wind easing off, but temperatures will struggle to climb past 40 degrees. Stay with Storm Team 8 for updates.
-
West Michigan’s only F5 tornado impacts then and now
Editor’s note: The video in this report is 2006 special report from Storm Team 8 looking back on the Hudsonville-Standale tornado 50 years after it happened. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Fortunately, tornadoes are rare in Michigan. Rarer yet are the strong to devastating ones that exceed EF3. Of those that do happen, more than 90% are EF1 or EF0, the lowest ratings, in strength. You have to go back to 1967 to find the last strong F3 tornado to impact either Kent or Ottawa counties. Muskegon County has never seen an EF3 tornado, dating back to when records begin in 1950. 70 years since an F5 in Michigan: How tornado ratings have changed If you include the entire state of Michigan, there was nearly a full decade between EF3 tornadoes — Dexter in March 2012 and Gaylord in May 2022. Remarkably, the last EF4 tornado was nearly 50 years ago in 1977. If you look at the graphic above, you'll notice all of Kent and Ottawa counties' strongest tornadoes happened within an 11-year span and all during the month of April. That's because April is when we can have the strongest clashes of air masses and stronger winds aloft. That's what happened April 3, 1956, creating the only F5 tornado ever in West Michigan and one of only two to ever dig into Michigan's soil. Between 6:40 p.m. and 7:50 p.m., the Hudsonville-Standale tornado cased immense devastation along its 52-mile path. Seventeen people were killed. Below is a picture of the tornado leaving Hudsonville after killing 13 people and heading toward Jenison. The damage in northwest sections of Hudsonville were incredible. Below is an example of some of the damage near Port Sheldon Road as the tornado entered the western fringes of Hudsonville. The Oostendorp home is an example of the damage caused by winds in excess of 200 mph. The home was swept off its foundation and even the linoleum floor that was glued on was scoured away. Two of the family members lost their lives. Though the damage was serious, the area was still relatively rural at the time, with homes scattered about. The images below show how much more development has been built up since the 1956 twister: Once the tornado left Hudsonville, it continued a path to the northeast, impacting homes in the Jenison area. Jenison High School, not yet standing because it was built in 1970, would have been in the tornado's path. After leaving the Jenison area, the tornado headed straight for Standale. Below is the intersection of Kinney Avenue and Lake Michigan Drive. Notice how Kinney still has a section of dirt road. If the tornado had happened in 2026, many more homes in the suburbs and major businesses, such as Meijer, would have been in its path. The tornado continued on through Walker, eventually crossing I-96 and M-37 (Alpine Avenue). Storm Team 8 meteorologist Matt Kirkwood's dad was 14 at the time — he remembers watching the tornado when it crossed Bristol Avenue. Since then, huge growth has occurred in the same area. The tornado continued racing northeast at approximately 45 mph, eventually cutting through Rockford and ending near Trufant. How would current construction stand up to destructive tornadoes? Since the Hudsonville-Standale tornado, Kent County has increased its population by over 50%, with the Grand Rapids suburbs of Standale and Walker seeing an impressive fourfold increase. Ottawa County, with it beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline, is the fastest growing county in Michigan. It has seen its population go from about 90,000 people to over 300,000. Hudsonville is a prime example of one of the towns that has seen its population swell by nearly 70%. It's only a matter of time before another violent tornado strikes again in this area. It happened only nine years after 1956 with the Palm Sunday F4 tornado that struck Belmont and Comstock Park, killing six. The tornadoes' paths both crossed the Samrick Farm in Belmont.
-
Whitmer, MI lawmakers seek presidential disaster declaration after deadly tornadoes
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — After deadly tornadoes ripped through Southwest Michigan last month, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and a bipartisan coalition of Michigan lawmakers are asking President Donald Trump to declare a major disaster. ‘We’re going for a ride now’: How survivors rode out the Union Lake tornado If issued, the declaration can unlock a range of federal assistance programs. Whitmer has requested "all areas" of Individual Assistance for Branch, Cass and St. Joseph counties, according to her office. The Individual Assistance category includes funds for temporary housing, grants to repair damage, legal assistance, crisis counseling and unemployment assistance. Three Rivers invites community to cemetery cleanup after tornado The National Weather Service has confirmed that four tornadoes hit Southwest Michigan on March 6: an EF1 near Edwardsburg, an EF2 in Three Rivers, an EF3 in the Union City area and an EF0 in Clarendon Township near Tekonsha. In total, the tornadoes claimed four lives, making them Michigan's deadliest tornado event in decades. Three people were killed in the Union City tornado: 63-year-old William Andrew Akers, 54-year-old Keri Ann Johnson and 65-year-old Penni Jo Guthrie. In the tornado near Edwardsburg, 12-year-old Silas Anderson was killed. Union City tornado victims identified as recovery continues “These tornadoes brought heartbreaking loss and widespread destruction to Southwest Michigan,” Whitmer said Wednesday in a statement. “Michigan families have lost loved ones, homes and businesses. I declared a state of emergency, but our work is just beginning. As we wrap our arms around the affected communities, we are requesting federal assistance to ensure those affected have the resources they need to recover." Democratic U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin and U.S. Representatives Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, and Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, penned a letter to President Trump in support Whitmer's request, saying that while state, local and county governments had stepped up in the tornadoes' wake, federal assistance will be required as the recovery process continues. "Michigan is home to some of the most resilient and selfless citizens in our nation.
Nevertheless, additional resources are needed so the residents and business owners in this
community can recover from this disaster. Thank you for you swift attention to this critical
matter," the lawmakers wrote. Whitmer declared a state emergency shortly after the tornadoes. On March 17, local, state and federal authorities conducted a preliminary damage assessment. State officials believe the devastation meets the threshold to ask for federal support. FEMA, state teams survey SW MI tornado damage Now, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will review Whitmer's request and advise Trump on whether a disaster declaration is needed, though the decision is ultimately Trump's, according to the governor's office. -
Ten flowers slated to bloom in the next few weeks
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Gardening season is right around the corner. While there’s plenty to look forward to, gardening expert Rick Vuyst says there are 10 flowers he particularly likes that will bloom in the coming weeks. Vuyst said the Show Off Sugar Baby Forsythia plants can be planted now and are great for April. “Forsythias are fabulous for April in Michigan,” he said. Chardonnay Pearls deutzia are underrated plants that are deer resistant and often overlooked by gardeners in landscapes, Vuyst said. While camellias cannot be planted up north, Vuyst said there is a second option for gardeners: the Double Take quince. “Just a great plant,” Vuyst said. “Gorgeous plant.” Fothergillas, also known as legend of the fall, was a personal favorite that Vuyst listed. “They call it legend of the fall because it saves the best for the fall season. The color is knock your socks off in fall. You get yellow, orange, red, all on the same plant. This is one of my favorite landscape plants," he said. The mock orange, Low Scape aronia, Show Time malus, Double Blue lilac and the Spice Girl viburnum were also listed by Vuyst, who encouraged gardeners to take the steps to prepare for the season. “Right now we’re going to be dreaming and scheming essentially,” he said. “We’re waiting for things to warm up and once they do — and that’s gonna happen soon — then we can get out there and start to do some planting.”
-
Pink Moon 2026: When to see April’s full moon
HOUSTON (KIAH) - Before you head to bed Wednesday, you may want to look up. The pink full moon is set to peak in the night sky. The moon reaches its peak illumination at 10:12 p.m. EDT. While it’s one of the most anticipated full moons of the year, there is a catch you should know before you set up your telescope. What to know: Peak Time: 10:12 p.m. EDT, April 1. Name: It’s named after a wildflower, not its actual color. Next full moon: The "flower moon" arrives on May 1. Will the moon actually be pink? Despite the name, the answer is no. The moon will not actually change its hue. The name "pink moon" comes from Native American and European traditions. It specifically refers to the early springtime bloom of Phlox subulata — a pink wildflower commonly known as "creeping phlox" or "moss pink" — which often blankets the ground around the time of the April full moon. What is a full moon? A full moon happens when the moon is positioned opposite the sun, with Earth directly in the middle. During this lunar phase, the entire near side of the moon is illuminated, making it appear as a complete circle to us on the ground. Full moon 2026 schedule If you miss this full moon's peak, here is this year's full moon schedule: Jan. 3Wolf MoonFeb. 1Snow MoonMarch 3Worm MoonApril 1Pink MoonMay 1Flower MoonMay 31Blue MoonJune 29Strawberry MoonJuly 29Buck MoonAug. 28Sturgeon MoonSept. 26Corn Moon (Harvest Moon)Oct. 26Hunter's MoonNov. 24Beaver MoonDec. 23Cold Moon
-
Thunderstorms rumble across Southwest Michigan
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A line of severe thunderstorms swept across Southwest Michigan Thursday evening. Inside woodtv.com: Radar A number of tornado warnings were in effect for Cass, Calhoun, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties between around 6:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Barry and Calhoun county were under a severe thunderstorm warning until 9:15 p.m. Allegan, Barry, Calhoun, Eaton, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties were under a tornado watch until 11 p.m. The Storm Prediction Center placed much of lower Michigan in a slight risk (level 2 out of 5) for severe thunderstorms to happen Thursday, with the risk of an isolated tornado spinning up south of I-96 where the ingredients were better aligned to produce a severe thunderstorm. Damaging wind was a greater potential issue as the discrete, isolated thunderstorms band together and push across the state. Areas along and south of I-96 carried the best chance of seeing thunderstorms that carry wind gusts between 50 and 70 mph. Anticipate that chances for severe weather to dissipate moving past 9 p.m. It was a soggy start to our day in West Michigan as heavy downpours moved through dropping 1 to 2 inches of rainfall through parts of Allegan, Ottawa, and Kent counties. Download the free Storm Team 8 weather app Another potent storm system will arrive Saturday that could bring more storms across Michigan through the Easter holiday weekend. Rainfall amounts may be substantial but severe weather is unlikely. Stay with Storm Team 8 for the latest updates.
-
Severe weather remains possible Tuesday evening
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Showers and storms will develop Tuesday as a strong front splits Lower Michigan. Inside woodtv.com: Radar Showers and thunderstorms rolled through West Michigan Tuesday afternoon with more on the way for the evening. While there still is a chance of a severe storm or two, the threat is looking considerably lower as the day goes on. Still, the severe threat remains as a level 2 out of 5 (slight) for areas from just north of Holland, Grand Rapids and to Greenville to the south. It appears most of us will avoid any flooding rain, as most will see no more than .25 to .50 inches in the rain gauge. Download the free Storm Team 8 weather app ACTIVE PATTERN CONTINUES We'll have plenty more chances for rain this week, especially Thursday and Saturday as the pattern remains quite active. Thursday will be a challenging day, with the threat of freezing rain during the morning north of Grand Rapids replaced with the threat of severe weather by evening. The Storm Prediction Center already has West Michigan included in the slight risk category for Thursday. Another storm system will arrive this holiday weekend, giving us additional chance of more rain and possible stormy weather. Total rainfall amounts through the weekend could range between 1 and 3 inches. Storm Team 8 Forecast Cooler and breezy conditions will settle in for Easter Sunday.
-
Severe weather threat returns Monday and Tuesday
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Showers and storms will develop overnight Monday into Tuesday, with a few storms likely to produce lightning and hail. Inside woodtv.com: Radar The severe threat will not be particularly high in Michigan as a level 1 out of 5 (marginal) risk remains in place. If strong storms do occur, large hail would be the primary concern. TUESDAY As storms clear Tuesday morning, sunshine may appear. If this is the case, it will be used as fuel for more severe weather later in the day. The highest threat for severe storms looks to be in the late afternoon and evening. This go around, a level 2 (slight) risk is in place for most of West Michigan. Damaging wind gusts and hail will be possible. Download the free Storm Team 8 weather app ACTIVE PATTERN CONTINUES The active pattern will continue through the remainder of the week with additional precipitation chances, including for thunderstorms, Thursday and Saturday. Thursday could be tricky due to tumbling temperatures. This poses a threat of freezing rain north of Grand Rapids during the morning hours. Warmer air arriving late in the day will increase the chance of thunderstorms later in the day. More storms will be possible Saturday before cooler and drier air arrives Easter Sunday.
json via rss
The RSS feed does not contain any items.embed json
[{"id":1458368,"date":"2023-06-21T13:51:37","date_gmt":"2023-06-21T17:51:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.woodtv.com\/?p=1458368"},"modified":"2023-09-11T12:23:00","modified_gmt":"2023-09-11T16:23:00","slug":"storm-team-8-forecast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.woodtv.com\/weather\/forecast\/storm-team-8-forecast\/","title":{"rendered":"Storm Team 8 Forecast"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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
Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” when he had said this, he breathed his last.
LUKE 23:46 NIVGrand Rapids / Lakeshore
Kalamazoo
Battle Creek
Benton Harbor