May 21, 2013
0740.17z
UNISYS Enhanced Infrared Midwest Satellite (click here for 12 hour loop)
The vortex isn't moving. It lost it's tropical water vapor flow.
In northern Michigan the rain is light, the lightning sharp and occasional, but, the thunder very loud and the sound lasts at least 30 seconds after the lightning. It is a very dry storm, but, has high ionic content.
There is no wind. There is no air movement. The air is cool at 61 degree Fahrenheit.
It is all upper troposphere.
Yesterday about 3:00 PM there was a brief downpour that appeared to soak the ground, but, the road was dry within 5 minutes after the rain stopped. The rain was drying within 60 seconds after it hit the glass of the window. The rain drops left a stain where they dried.
From what I can tell the water vapor is upper atmosphere and fuels the vortex. This is a horror. The vortex is persistent without any release of heat until the tornadoes begin.
The vegetation here is good. Some of the deciduous trees are still only beginning to start their buds, but, the growing season started about a week ago, but, started with vigor. Better late than never. The cherry orchards are bright with color, but, the vineyards are sluggish. It was a very long winter. I was beginning to doubt whether winter would leave before summer began, but, it was about half way through Spring when the trees started to come alive. There has been some damage to the tall deciduous trees from the winter storms, some glacial storms. The taller trees lost some of their bark at the top of the canopy from ice and wind over the winter. It opens them up to disease if they don't heal over this summer.
The pines turned a deep green from a dull green as soon as the temperatures came up over 40 degrees Fahrenheit. They deepened in color at least two weeks before the deciduous trees showed any signs of life. I have never seen pines so green before. They didn't have any competition in a dense CO2 environment. Their color has remained very green.
The trees here are well established with deep roots. They have good water support from surrounding bays that keep the water table high.
