Record-low temperatures hit Michigan

Take a step outside, however, and all that could be felt was a numbing cold. Many cities and towns never got into double digits yesterday, with Detroit recording a record low of 10 below zero. The previous record for Jan. 5 was eight below zero, set in 1981.

"I hate it," attorney Susan Rack said as she was walking back to her car in downtown Detroit. Clad in a long coat, boots, a hat and mittens, Rack lamented for last month's warmer temperatures.

"I want our Florida weather back," said Rack, who lives in Inkster.

On Dec. 5, Detroit had a record high of 65 degrees, and it was 69 a day later. Yesterday, Andy Resendez was trying to use a snow blower to clear a downtown sidewalk but gave up.

"It's too much," he said. "We need a snowplow."

Resendez, of Detroit, had been called into work because a colleague had gotten too cold.

"You can't stay out here for long. A couple of hours is the max," he said.

But Paul Wright, who was waiting for the bus, didn't mind the chill.

"I'm comfortable," he said, clad in a hat, long coat, galoshes and with a scarf wrapped around his face."I prefer cold weather to hot weather. I bundle up. I may look badly, but I'm warm."

At Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Romulus, yesterday's high as of 5 p.m. was zero, the National Weather Service reported.

Iron Mountain had recorded the state's lowest temperature, 20 below. Copper Harbor had the state high at 31 degrees. The next highest temperature was 18 degrees at Alpena, Manistee, Pellston and Sault Ste. Marie.

The high in Grand Rapids had reached only four degrees, a degree below the previous record low high of five set in 1912.

In Lansing, the high was just three degrees, well below the previous record of six set in 1912.

Roads were still slick and snow covered, and many motorists found their commutes took more than twice as long as normal.

Just as the season's first real chill set in, The Heat and Warmth Fund announced it will start its 1999 campaign today. Last year, the organization raised nearly $2,700,000 to help Detroit-area families pay their heat bills.

After a brief respite with temperatures in the 30s on Friday in lower Michigan, the temperature will fall down to the 20s again this weekend, said Jeff Boyne, a National Weather Service meteorologist. Northern Lower Michigan will have temperatures in the 20s on Friday and between five degrees and teens over the weekend, Boyne said.

A new storm could possibly hit the state tomorrow evening and Friday.

"We'll probably get some snow, but the question is how much," he said.

For today, forecasts call for lower Michigan to be doused with 2 to 4 inches of snow. About 4 to 8 inches could fall on shorelines along Lake Michigan, and the Upper Peninsula should get 2 to 4 inches.

The weekend storm that dumped more than a foot of snow in many areas, combined with the holiday and airport problems and a power outage yesterday in Lansing left the American Red Cross with low blood supplies. The organization yesterday declared a blood emergency for the state. The need was especially large for platelets - which have a shelf life of only five days.

Southeastern Michigan hospitals need 500 units of platelets each day, and yesterday, the Red Cross had only 205 units available. A back order for 50 units also needed to be filled, the organization said in a news release. The chilly temperatures also hampered Northwest Airlines' efforts to get operations back to normal after the weekend storm, spokeswoman Andrea Newman said. Hundreds of passengers were stranded at Detroit Metropolitan Airport because of the storm.

Yesterday, about 100 of the airline's 400 flights were canceled, Newman said. Many flights had been canceled Saturday and Sunday and more than half of Northwest flights were canceled Monday. Barring more weather problems, the airline should be back to a normal schedule today, Newman said.

Many of the weekend travelers arrived without their luggage, and Newman said Northwest would store and sort luggage in a warehouse near the airport. Northwest will then deliver the bags to travelers' homes, but those who wish may come and pick up their bags, Newman said.

Many school children welcomed the extension of their holiday break the weekend storm and its aftermath brought. For many parents, however, the school closures meant child-care problems. Some companies, such as DaimlerChrysler, try to help parents by offering parents flexible work arrangements and assistance in finding daycare or homecare services.

DaimlerChrysler also offers employees one personal day, spokesperson Curtrise Garner said.

Detroit Public Schools were closed Monday and yesterday and will remain closed today.

01-06-99