Ann Arbor Art Fair: What's the weather outlook?
A water bottle may be the essential accessory at the Ann Arbor Art Fair this year.
Fair-goers hoping for temperate weather will be disappointed by the National Weather Service’s forecast for the annual four-day event. The good news is that a repeat of last year’s storms isn't expected.
But it's going to be hot. Temperatures are currently predicted to reach the 90s for each day of the fair. Cory Behnke, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s White Lake Township office said he expects that the NWS may issue a heat advisory and an excessive heat warning.
Northville mixed media artist Bill Thelen checks his artwork during the first of several storms that hit Ann Arbor last year during the Art Fair. This year's forecast looks drier, so far.
File photo | AnnArbor.com
The weather service currently predicts high temperatures of 94 for Wednesday, 95 for Thursday, and 92 degrees on Friday.
According to Behnke, a heat advisory means that “a period of hot temperatures is expected, and the combination of heat and high humidity will create a situation where heat illness is possible.”
An excessive heat warning is similar, but usually issued when a “more prolonged period of dangerously hot temperatures will occur,” he said.
Last year, heavy thunderstorms swept through the fair on Friday forcing most artists to close their booths early. Behnke said the only day with a risk of rain is Saturday, but it’s difficult to accurately predict a week in advance.
“Right now, it’s a dry forecast, but you never know,” he said. “We might get a better chance at some showers and thunderstorms as we head into the weekend.”
Meanwhile, Sunday was declared an "action day" for elevated levels of ozone. Adults and children with asthma or those who plan to exercise outside were urged to be careful.
AnnArbor.com will be covering the Art Fair all week. Here are a couple of previews to get you started:
- Ann Arbor Art Fair facts: parking, hours, map and more
- Ann Arbor Art Fair ready to cover the town with creativity
Ben Freed is a summer intern at AnnArbor.com. You can reach him by email at benfreed@annarbor.com or by phone at (734)-623-4674. Follow him on Twitter @BFreedInA2.
Comments
Bonsai
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 1:48 p.m.
Breaking news: Thousands injured at Townie Fair <a href="http://newsofannarbor.blogspot.com/" rel='nofollow'>http://newsofannarbor.blogspot.com/</a>
nixon41
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 12:03 p.m.
EVERYTHING is overpriced @ the fair & Ann Arbor is too, plus overrated.
nixon41
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 12:01 p.m.
And then there are the thunder storms to consider. Why don't they pick a different time of the year?
15crown00
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 3:13 a.m.
VERY hot and very thundershowery
Tom Joad
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 3:06 a.m.
It's not art, and it's not fair
applehazar
Sun, Jul 17, 2011 : 11:11 p.m.
This story is a waste of time It's July. What do you think? Have the art fair in february and the weather will be ______
MAS
Sun, Jul 17, 2011 : 10:35 p.m.
Does anyone else think that the Plymouth Art Fair is much better than the Ann Arbor?
MAS
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 12:39 a.m.
I understand the variety and even would admit the artist might be more well known/better at the AA one. However, I just feel overwhelmed when I have gone to the AA Art Fair. The Plymouth Art Fair is easy to get to and better better to navigate.
MjC
Sun, Jul 17, 2011 : 11:17 p.m.
The Plymouth Art Fair has developed into a minature copy of the Ann Arbor Art Fairs (hot weather included). There is much more craft work for sale - which is fine. But nothing compares to the calibar of the artists that come to Ann Arbor. The paintings, sculptures, pottery, fabrics, jewlery... absolutely incredible work!
Tom Smith
Sun, Jul 17, 2011 : 9:27 p.m.
You post this as if you have never been to an Ann Arbor Art Fair. Gawd, I get to play the Old Fogie card, but I've lived here for thirty-five years, and there are three Art Fair truths: The parking is always less tricky than you think it's going to be, the food is terrible for you but tastes fantastic, and it is ALWAYS hot and humid with a chance of at least one huge muckin' storm. I've always speculated that there's one guy, someone who works down on Main Street, who leaves for a week-long business trip on Monday morning of Art Fair and doesn't return until the following Monday morning, by which time all the evidence has been cleaned up, and he insists that everyone's putting him on about this Art Fair thing. I kinda hope I'm right.