Hills Author's Book Tracks Michigan's Wild Weather

As a meteorologist for WDIV in Detroit, Farmington Hills resident Paul Gross does his best to educate viewers about why Michigan weather does what it does. He also speaks on the subject, often in local schools.

"Teaching people about Michigan weather is something I've always wanted to do," he said. "I try to do that as much as I can on TV, but you don't really have the time."

Four years after Gross first began to think about putting what he knew into a book, "Extreme Michigan Weather" is now on local bookshelves. He said the research, which included compiling over 30,000 Michigan weather statistics, took three years.

But don't be fooled; the book is an entertaining read.

"I had a very distinct idea about what I wanted this book to be," he said. "This is not a rigorous, boring, dry teaching book. It's a casual look at why we get the weather we do."

A broadcast meteorologist for more than 25 years, Gross already knew a lot about Michigan weather. But there were statistics he wanted to include in the book: record highs and lows, record rainfall and record snowfall.

For all 365 days of the year.

In 22 cities around the state.

"I had to hand-type all of those statistics. The charts fill up the second half of the book," said Gross. "It allows people to localize the information."

The task of combing through records also uncovered some anomalies. "It forced me to take a much closer look at the data base. Some of the numbers seemed out of whack. I found some of them were wrong."

For instance, statistics showed Harbor Beach had record snowfall for several days in June. Even for Michigan, that didn't look right, so Gross investigated. Someone at the National Weather Service archives finally found the answer: Whoever keyed in statistics accidentally typed six days of rainfall into the snowfall column.

"Now we have more accurate information," Gross said, adding that's important for tracking purposes.

While the research was time-consuming, it re-affirmed Gross' perception of how extreme Michigan weather can be. The state gets almost every kind of weather that exists, even the remnants of hurricanes. That has made for interesting conversations as Gross has met with readers at book signings and other presentations.

The most common question he's asked is what weather event had the greatest impact statewide. The answer is not a blizzard or a tornado, or even a record rainfall. It's the heat wave of 1936 in Detroit. There were seven consecutive days with high temperatures at or above 100 degrees.

"It even affected areas way up north," Gross said. "It was a state-wide heat wave unmatched, and in the days before air conditioning. Hundreds of people died."

While Gross never aimed to wade into political controversy, "Extreme Michigan Weather" includes a factual look at global warming. Even though the chapter contains only scientific information, and Gross had spoken with the parent beforehand, one child was kept out of his presentation at a Farmington school because of the parent's conservative views about global warming.

"That was very shocking to me," Gross said. "I wasn't angry at the parent, I felt bad for the kid, who had to do an alternate activity in the library."

Aside from that one experience, Gross said he hasn't had any negative comments about the book. In fact, "Extreme Michigan Weather" has been so popular since its June release, that University of Michigan Press has done a second printing. Choosing a local printer, and doing his first book signing at , were deliberate decisions to support the local economy, Gross said.

At book signings and other speaking events, he said readers tell him they are amazed to learn why Michigan's wild weather happens. "That's very gratifying. That was my goal in writing the book."

Gross and his wife have two sons, who are students. He is a popular emcee at local charity events; most notably, the Farmington-Farmington Hills Community Foundation annual gala. He has also been a judge for the Miss Farmington pageant, held annually in July.

Extreme Michigan Weather is available at area bookstores and through University of Michigan Press. Cover price is $24.95.