If crazy Bermuda High holds, Michigan's in for quite a summer

Crazy Bermuda High.jpg

A strong high pressure system off the coast of Florida right now is called a 'Bermuda High'. It is typically a weather feature that forms in late summer.

(Mark Torregrossa/MLive.com)

You may sense that we have a bizarre weather pattern right now in Michigan, and if it holds on, Michigan will have quite a summer.

The main weather feature producing this very warm weather is what we meteorologists call a 'Bermuda High'.

A Bermuda High is when a strong, stationary high pressure center forms in the Atlantic, over Bermuda. The wind flow brings southerly winds to the eastern half of the U.S.

It's not a weird weather pattern - in August and September.

It's a real weird weather pattern in March.

Here's my short video showing how developed this Bermuda High is right now.

Typically, the pattern will form in June or July out over the Atlantic. As we get into late summer, the Bermuda High will move west and become centered over the southeast U.S. There it circulates warm, humid air into the eastern U.S. and Michigan.

This year the Bermuda high formed in December. I noticed it, and thought this to be very strange, but it dissipated in January and February. It's no surprise that's when Michigan had its coldest weather.

But in the last few weeks, the Bermuda High has formed again. It's now as strong as it typically is in mid-summer.

What does this mean for Michigan?
If the pattern exists now, it should continue to strengthen and shift west into the U.S. during summer. Based on its strength now, I'd think it would continue to influence Michigan's weather more and more as we go into summer.

If this Bermuda High does continue to strengthen, and shift west, Michigan is in for a hot summer. And it won't be a dry heat. Look at the top graphic. I've indicated the flow around the Bermuda High. We would expect a lot of southerly winds, with lots of water vapor from the Gulf of Mexico.

That would bring Michigan a hot and humid summer. The warmest temperatures may stay under 100 degrees because humid air doesn't get extremely hot. But we might have a lot of 90 degree days and 75 degree nights.

What to watch
We will just have to watch this pattern in April and early May. If we continue to see this tendency for the Bermuda high to keep building, a hot and humid summer is probably on the way.

I will say that, based on this pattern now, I see spring coming early, and summer coming early.

Don't procrastinate on boat and pool projects. You may want your boat in the water by May 1. And if your air conditioner needs work, take advantage of an 'out of season' deal.

If you have any weather questions, please ask below.

MLive Chief Meteorologist Mark Torregrossa has been forecasting Michigan weather for more than 25 years. He's been chief meteorologist at three television news stations in Michigan, and he's an avid gardener and hunter. Email him at mtorregr@mlive.com and find him on Facebook at facebook.com/mark.torregrossa and Twitter @weathermanmark