Game Day Weather

Submitted by mgoweather on

Low pressure system over Lake Michigan and it's accompanying cold front is draped across Ilinois and Missouri this morning. As we go throughout the day, it pushes through South Bend, causing scattered showers and storms-nothing severe, but the stronger storms may produce small hail. The highest probability of storms is along and North of Hwy. 30 (which runs about 25 miles south of the stadium). The chance of storms goes down a bit as we get later into the night, but don't rule them out. Today will be much cooler than yesterday also-highs only reaching into the mid 50s-breezy during the afternoon, and pretty cloudy. Wind goes down for the game, as temps drop down into the 40s.

If you're in South Bend...

Tailgating

Cooler today than yesterday (Friday highs were in the upper 60s), hitting a high of 57 degrees this afternoon. Fog burns off by mid-morning but it's staying pretty cloudy throughout the day, with scattered showers and possible thunderstorms moving through. Little breezy too-winds are out of the WNW in the mid-teens with gusts up in the mid 20s (small trees sway, garbage cans tip over). We'll get rid of the gusts around 5pm.

Kickoff

By 7:30, the winds will have gone down to 10mph (leaves move about), remaining out of the WNW. We've cooled down also, but not by a whole lot-we'll be at 52 for the start of the game. Still pretty overcast, and passing showers and storms are possible.

Halftime

Mostly cloudy skies with the slight chance of passing showers and storms still hanging on. Temps lingering right at 50 degrees, with WNW winds at a steady 7mph (you'll feel the breeze on your skin, hear the leaves rustle).

Post-Game

Into the upper 40s for the game's end, dropping into the mid 40s by closing time, and hitting a low of 43 by 7am. The small chance of a passing shower continues throughout the overnight hours, and rain chances continue into Sunday-but we'll see a little more sun and get back up into the mid 50s. Winds remain at 7mph out of the WNW, picking up shortly after sunrise Sunday to the mid-teens by afternoon.

 

If you're in Ann Arbor...

Reaching the low 60s this afternoon, with westerly winds at 15mph, gusts up around 20mph. Mostly cloudy and showers and storms moving through during the day, with small hail (around 1/2" diameter) and gusts to 30mph with the stronger storms (storms themselves will move west to east at about 30mph). By the time the game's over, we're looking at partly cloudy skies and just a slight chance of rain, light winds out of the WNW, at 46 degrees. Dropping to 43 degrees for closing time if you're out celebrating that win!

 

Christina Burkhart is a meteorologist for NBC/ABC in Traverse City, MI, and temporarily for NBC25 in Flint/Saginaw, MI. She grew up in Ann Arbor and associates Saturdays with Michigan football. Go Blue!!

Comments

corundum

September 22nd, 2012 at 2:44 PM ^

With the vorticity maximum already east of South Bend, the chances for storms should really only persist for the next couple hours. Widely scattered lake effect showers will be possible during game time, but don't expect a washout, it really shouldn't be that bad.