Game Day Weather

Submitted by mgoweather on
A low pressure system to the NE means we'll receive the backside of the rain and the cooler air streaming in behind the cold front. Luckily we'll be dry for the day and the only thing to really worry about is the wind. We have gale force winds expected throughout the whole day... we're not talking a light breeze, we're talking up to 45mph winds! Dress warm for this match-up!


If you're traveling to East Lansing...

Tailgating

The rain will move out by 8am, and if you're headed out tailgating you'll be dry, but may want to put a few extra stakes in your tent to make sure your wind protection doesn't blow over! We'll be at 45 degrees, but it'll feel chillier with west winds at 20mph, gusts higher. Grab something warm to drink, put the chili in the crockpot, and bundle up!

Kickoff

Looking at 52 degrees and partly cloudy for the kickoff. That west wind is just beginning to reach it's peak- seeing a steady 25mph wind (this is when you can hear the wind howling, it's hard to use an umbrella) and gusts could be up to 40mph (big trees sway, you can feel your car veering.)

Halftime

Only going up a couple degrees by halftime, and seeing more sun but some clouds remain. Winds steady at 30mph with gusts over 40mph possible. Gale force winds mean you can see some branches down, construction barricades can blow over.

Post-Game

Reaching the high temperature as we approach the end of the game, 56 degrees. The clouds will continue to clear as we go through the remainder of the afternoon and evening hours, but the important thing is that the winds will begin to wind down. By 8pm, sitting at 50 degrees, west wind at 18mph, gusts up to 30mph. By midnight, they've calmed to 15mph, gusts in the low 20s, with temps in the upper 40s. If you're headed home Sunday morning, you'll see less wind (about 10mph-leaves move about) but the chance of a shower returns.

 

If you're staying home...
Very similar weather, but we'll be a bit warmer. Looking to hit the upper 50s in Ann Arbor tomorrow, and a little less windy than E. Lansing- we'll have west winds between 20-28mph, with gusts in the upper 30s. 54 degrees at kickoff, 56 by halftime, and seeing mostly sunny skies for the afternoon. Cooling to the upper 40s by last call, wind at 15mph (no gusts), with clouds increasing late night as showers move in for Sunday morning. Bundle up on this windy Saturday to head downtown and celebrate victory!


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

Comments

One Inch Woody…

October 14th, 2011 at 11:07 PM ^

I think if both teams are forced to run only, we have the advantage. Michigan State will probably come out with a sweep package to take advantage of our supposedly weak perimeter defense, but I feel like Mattison will have placed extra emphasis on edge defense this week knowing that our front 7 is stout vertically.

Sgt.Rock

October 15th, 2011 at 1:36 AM ^

Low Scoring Game for sure now with these conditions.  Cousins and the MSU O will have trouble moving the ball on the ground, but so will Mich., however not so much which means Mich wins a close one 17 - 13

Coastal Elite

October 15th, 2011 at 2:06 AM ^

We played fine in windy conditions in the Minnesota game. Sure, a lot of that can be chalked up to the fact that Minnesota is effectively a 60th-percentile FCS power in terms of talent, but Denard still placed his throws well and the receivers were still in position to catch them. While I've been pessimistic about this game for a multitude of reasons, the weather doesn't really factor in.

rockydude

October 15th, 2011 at 4:29 AM ^

Big thanks to our OP, Mgoweather. I know that I really appreciate the weather updates as I am not local anymore.

It would seem to me that given Denard's lack of accuracy so far this season, the gusts shouldn't hurt us too much. MSU, on the other hand, would seem to want Cousins to be at his best. Maybe the breezes work in our favor?

And yes, Baker is a pretty darn good RB, but I don't know that he is that much better than our RB by committee. Baker really hasn't lit it up yet this season. Is it the patchwork line, or is he a little dinged maybe ?

mgokev

October 15th, 2011 at 7:40 AM ^

Definitely patchwork line.  Good DL's are getting good push and the blocking isn't developing correctly in order to spring MSU's RB's for 200+ yards.  We'll see how it plays out today, but I'm cautiously optimistic.

mgoweather

October 15th, 2011 at 9:11 AM ^

Yes, I got in to UofM, but growing up in Saline wanted to get away for the college experience. The program there was also a better fit for me for my career. I never attended one sporting event there, actually returning home to go to Michigan games. After State, I returned to do research for UofM until attending grad school. My support for Michigan has never waivered, especially now that Brady Hoke is the coach (I grew up living down the street from his family, running cc and graduating with his daughter, Kelly). Go Blue!