Cold weather continues across northwest Michigan
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EmailCold conditions have kept all fruit crops dormant.
Weather report
Despite reports (and pictures!) from around the state showing advancements in fruit development, all is quiet in northwest Michigan. Most of the snow in the orchards has melted other than piles from snowplows or north facing slopes. Daytime highs are predicted to be around 35 degrees Fahrenheit with an overnight low dropping down to 23 F. These cold temperatures have been the trend over the past week, and we have had daily snow showers that have accompanied this cold weather.
The weather forecast for the remainder of the week remains cool. The daytime highs are predicted to be the 40s and 50s, potentially hitting 65 F on Sunday, April 13. Rain is also in the forecast for the weekend.
The regions in southern Michigan tell a different story. In southwest Michigan, some days had high temperatures last week, but they also had wild swings in temperatures. For example, the Enviroweather station at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center reported a high of 77.9 F on March 30 followed by 70.6 F on March 31, then a drop to a high of 46.3 F on April 1. This trend continued, and there has been ups and downs until now. Cold remains in the forecast for evenings, and last night (April 6), temperatures dipped down into the low 20s at some sites.
Jeff Andresen’s forecast is predicted to be fair and cool on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 7 and 8. There is some potential rain in the forecast for Friday and into the weekend, but in northwest Michigan, rain is not predicted until Sunday, April 13. The predictions are showing some temperature differentials between north and south Michigan. The medium range forecast is calling for warmer and wetter than normal for the next two weeks.
Crop report
As previously mentioned, the cold weather has kept all fruit crops dormant across the region. Growers are still pruning, and many are waiting for a warmer and drier window to prune sweet cherries. We will plan to prune our sweet cherries starting tomorrow with the predicted slightly warmer temperatures and rain far out in the forecast for the weekend.
Around the state, there are much different reports about fruit crop development. There is some bud swell in grapes in early varieties, and peaches are at calyx green and plums at tight cluster. Most apples are at green tip, but McIntosh are closer to tight cluster. Blueberries are at bud burst and are further ahead than normal. McIntosh hit green tip in Romeo, Michigan, on April 1. Apples are at silver tip in west central Michigan and side green in plums. Dormant applications have been going on in west central Michigan.
This work is supported by the Crop Protection and Pest Management Program [grant no 2024-70006-43569] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
