'Numerous thunderstorms' coming through Ann Arbor as Obama commencement dawns
Lightning strikes over Michigan Stadium early Saturday morning.
Mark Bialek for AnnArbor.com
Lightning bolts lit the sky and heavy rain drenched graduates waiting to enter Michigan Stadium for commencement this morning.
The National Weather Service issued a statement at 4:24 a.m. indicating that the storms could produce pea-sized hail with brief heavy rainfall and wind gusts up to 40 mph. Torrential rain fell until about 7:30 a.m., then the rainfall lightened and the lightning strikes stopped.
A light rain started at Elbel Field by 6:10 a.m., where about 200 U-M grads have lined up so far, and a university official used a speaker system to advise people to take shelter under a breakfast tent.
"What you don't want to do is stand near a pole because this storm does have lightning. So stay away from poles," the official told students - though the storm front should only last 30 to 60 minutes.
By 6:30 a.m., it was pouring, and everyone at Elbel Field was gathered under the shelter.
Umbrellas are not allowed in the stadium during commencement.
"But we do have emergency ponchos," U-M psychology professor Mark Sampson, a commencement volunteer, said with a smile.
Asked to offer a whimsical psychological assessment on how rain on commencement day affects a graduate's psyche, he joked, "It starts off telling them that life's not going to be easy, but hang in there, the hard part will be over soon."
Graduates and volunteers were trying to keep their spirits up, even though many were drenched.
"The trash bag worked, except it funneled all the water down my pants," said Jameson Toole, a physics grad, to the laughter of geological sciences grad Erin Lower.
The shaky weather forecast is sure to unnerve officials from the University of Michigan, which is preparing to host President Barack Obama this morning as the keynote speaker at the spring commencement ceremony. The ceremony address is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
An hour-by-hour forecast at Weather.com indicates that the chance of rain in Ann Arbor is 90 percent at 7 a.m., 100 percent at 8 a.m., 45 percent at 9 a.m., 15 percent at 10 a.m., 40 percent at 11 a.m. and 40 percent at noon. Graduates participating in the ceremony must be lined up at Elbel Field near Michigan Stadium by 9 a.m.
U-M psychology professor Mark Sampson is ready for rain.
Nathan Bomey | AnnArbor.com
The university has said that it rain won't affect the ceremony, but thunder and lightning would force the university to condense or alter the schedule of events. It's also unclear whether the storms could affect the president's itinerary.
The university has no plans to move the commencement ceremony indoors.
"Given the size of spring commencement, it is not logistically feasible to move this ceremony to an indoor location and still maintain its university-wide, inclusive focus," U-M's Web site says.
U-M expects more than 80,000 people to attend the commencement ceremony, which will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network. Check back with AnnArbor.com this morning for more updates and a live blog starting at 10 a.m.
Contact AnnArbor.com's Nathan Bomey at (734) 623-2587 or nathanbomey@annarbor.com. You can also follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Kimberly A. Napoleon-Simon
Sat, May 1, 2010 : 4:13 p.m.
AHHHHHHHHAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!What a BEAUTIFUL DAY!!!!No updated weather report. Congratulations class of 2010! Go BLUE!!! @Tigger nice post
bedrog
Sat, May 1, 2010 : 11:23 a.m.
pork sword ( or pork' s word)...(either one works)....the rain held off and he gave an eloquent, uplifting speech...draw your own conclusions on the issue you raised.... but even if he's just a high achieving mortal, im proud to have him as president and visitor to A2... wish the relentless nay-sayers would shift their blind adulation from beckoid/limbaugh lout-dom to at least give the guy a chance to deal with the assorted messes he inherited.
bluetonguedlizard
Sat, May 1, 2010 : 9:37 a.m.
Ditto Andy Jacobs I agree! Lumberg48108 - perhaps Obama needs less press conferences because he can string more than one sentence together in correct english and gets it right the first time.
Mike Hulsebus
Sat, May 1, 2010 : 9:22 a.m.
Great photo!
lumberg48108
Sat, May 1, 2010 : 8 a.m.
Can't the almight Obama raise his hand and halt the rain - ala Moses? Congrats to the grads - enjoy your day - but the blind hero worship of an unproven president is annoying! Remember folks - he claimed transparancy and even George W. had has more press conferences than he has. His attack dog (Gibs) calls and berates reporters who dare to disagaree... this is not a transparant president so be warned!
Soothslayer
Sat, May 1, 2010 : 7:59 a.m.
Honestly people stop hatin' on Obama. Get over it. He is YOUR president at least till 2012 and with any luck 4 more glorious years of reform to get us out of the proverbial dark ages we've been in far too long. This event today is not about Obama, it's about the UM graduating class of 2010 and their families, friends, fears and hopes for what's next. They've made a terrific accomplishment and we should all be proud of them. Also Jeff Daniels is an accomplished actor, songwriter and all around really nice guy. The character he played was in Dumb and Dumber. Realize and embrace the difference between the twisted world in your head and reality. Good things are happening. Peace.
Spyker
Sat, May 1, 2010 : 7:55 a.m.
We had a son graduate a few years ago from another university, also an outdoors event, with cold blustery winds, scorching sun, and drenching thunderstorms, all within the four hour window before and during commencement. In the end, it was still a great time. Congratulations to all the graduates and their families! Don't let the weather dampen your enthusiam toward successfully completing an important chapter of your lives.
PersonX
Sat, May 1, 2010 : 7:08 a.m.
Students and their families are exited about graduation, a sitting president--our national democratically elected president of all the people-- is to give the address, and no amount of bad weather is going to spoil it for those who have waited four years for this and are looking forward to the next stage if their lives. But here in grumpy land, nastiness must have its day. Fortunately, all this negativity is but chaff in the wind, as those for whom it really matters are not paying any attention. What a sad lot so many posters are... Find some pleasure in life...
Edward R. Murrow's ghost
Sat, May 1, 2010 : 7:01 a.m.
Thunderstorms are gone; just a few sprinkles left. Too bad for all of you haters. Just ruins your day, eh? Grads: Have a great day. Enjoy yourselves and enjoy the honor of having the president at your commencement.
Tarc
Sat, May 1, 2010 : 6:43 a.m.
Considering that he survived his competition - Dumb and Dumber - and his predecessor - Dumbest - and effectively defeated a financial disaster Republicans has been orchestrating for 30 years, I don't think Obama is concerned about a little weather. I'm not even much of a fan, but you have to hand him his due for dealing with Bush's disasterous mess.
Saldoggy
Sat, May 1, 2010 : 6:29 a.m.
Unfortunately, it looks like the thunderstorm hit a few hours too early.
Tom Joad
Sat, May 1, 2010 : 6:22 a.m.
Obama promised sunshine all we got is rain...did you bring your Janet Neopolitan-approved poncho?
dading dont delete me bro
Sat, May 1, 2010 : 6:15 a.m.
wow.
bedrog
Sat, May 1, 2010 : 6:09 a.m.
this thread ( as any other that brings out the knee jerk obama -hatas) could compete with the humane society in having a large number of "dogs in the manger".
Peregrine
Sat, May 1, 2010 : 6:03 a.m.
Here's an image of the current weather radar. As of 7am, it looks like the worst of it has moved off to the east. There's plenty more rain coming, but it seems likely that the lightening will subside.
Tom Joad
Sat, May 1, 2010 : 5:50 a.m.
I hear they have Jeff Daniels lined up as an alternate should Obama cancel due to weather...
InsideTheHall
Sat, May 1, 2010 : 5:47 a.m.
The garden needs the rain...perfect timing. :)
Tom Joad
Sat, May 1, 2010 : 5:46 a.m.
"not expected to be severe." As numerous deadly lightening bolts strike throughout the city...
GoblueBeatOSU
Sat, May 1, 2010 : 4:34 a.m.
yep..it is going to rain on Obama's parade...although...the way things work for Obama I can already see the picture that is going to get taken today. Obama in the Big House...arms raised high...mouth open wide...and 2 bolts of lightning each perfectly aligned with Obama's hands....as if he is calling all the power in the universe...or someone will just photoshop this....