Traverse City Record-Eagle

Dry weather conditions to continue

By ALEX PIAZZA

TRAVERSE CITY -- Mark Miezio plans to keep a close eye on the local weather forecast in the coming weeks.

Temperatures that top 70 degrees with no rain may create ideal conditions for outdoor enthusiasts, but not fruit growers like Miezio -- especially in March.

"We're a little concerned over the next couple of weeks," said Miezio, manager at Cherry Bay Orchards in Suttons Bay. "There could definitely be some concerns with this early warm weather. It puts you at a greater risk for frost."

Miezio also plans to get more use out of his irrigation equipment if dry times continue. Precipitation totals for January through March in Traverse City are about four inches below the seasonal average.

"March has been awful," said Brian Adam, National Weather Service meteorologist. "I haven't seen any measurable precipitation for some time."

Locals have gone nearly three weeks without any significant precipitation, and Traverse City has been dry since a March 12 storm dropped less than a half-inch of rain.

"It's drier than it really should be," said local horticulturist Francis Otto.

Warm temperatures mixed with no rain likely will cause concern among local growers, but Otto said it's too early in the season to predict how weather conditions will affect summer harvests.

Weather experts foresee a dry week ahead with temperatures that could reach 70 degrees.

"We have a dry forecast," Adam said. "We could be looking at record temperatures by the end of the week."

Trees can become stressed and produce an inadequate fruit set if the drought continues, said Nikki Rothwell, director of the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station.

"There's a lot of people putting in irrigation because they're so concerned with this issue of drought," Rothwell said. "I'm a little worried. It doesn't look like there's any moisture in the forecast."

And local growers aren't the only ones who rely on Mother Nature to make ends meet. Bob Summers will welcome 70-degree temperatures any day of the week, but without rain, his greens and fairways will dry out.

"We'd love to have a little bit of rain," said Summers, manager at Elmbrook Golf Course in Traverse City.

Summers planned to open the course by mid-April, but unusually warm temperatures spurred him to instead open in March. But he might be forced to use a sprinkler system more often this spring to keep the course in order.

Precipitation totals

Precipitation totals this year across northwest Michigan are far below their seasonal averages. Here's a look at the precipitation totals from January through March, compared to their seasonal averages.

Source: National Weather Service