It was an exciting start to the United States Women's Balloon National Championship this morning in Jackson, MI hosted by Hot Air Jubilee! Our chief Meteorologist Joel Fritsma and forecaster Alex Melendez are on site for weather monitoring over the next several days providing forecast information, insights, and safety bulletins for any inclement weather that is set to impact the championship.
Congrats to all the pilots after the first flight of competition at 6:30 am EDT earlier this morning, July 14th, 2026. Amy Gneiting leads the way with 4,810 points, with McKenna Secrist in 2nd place at 4,494 points, and Cheri White rounding out the top three with 4,085 points. There are 18 pilots from all across the United States and the Netherlands involved in this week of flights.
While the evening flight was canceled tonight due to excessive feels-like temperatures around 104°F, you can follow the competition all week long on the Hot Air Jubilee app, or online at https://t.co/owCraEDbMP!
@AdamSchefter Yall have fun with him, was a big Terrion fan until this happened. Being a multimillionaire but still putting yourself in a situation where you have to prove your innocence shows enough that you’re willing to walk that line.
A struggling MCS (mesoscale convective system) is moving onto Lake Michigan. This system that has been responsible for hail 1-2", winds up to 80 mph, and a tornado or two in Wisconsin has begun to lose its muster as it moves into the "sometimes storm-shredder", Lake Michigan. Models do depict that the system maintains itself into west Michigan, but just barely teetering on the edge of severe with 60-65 mph winds the possible hazard. An embedded hail risk cannot be ruled out. A flooding threat may materialize too if the stratiform rain that is following behind sustains itself as well while crossing Lake Michigan. Slow movement on these storms will also contribute to minor flooding, and of course a later arrival time. The white dashed line depicts an estimated arrival to West Michigan around 11 pm EDT.
If it can stay together, this line of gusty storms would push through between 11 pm EDT and 5 am EDT overnight. Keep us in your back pocket, and make sure to have ways to receive warning before you go to bed tonight besides an outdoor warning siren, just out of an abundance of caution.
-- Chief Meteorologist Joel Fritsma --
Let’s see what @Lions fans are paying attention right now :)
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