660 FXUS63 KAPX 050529 AFDAPXArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Gaylord MI 129 AM EDT Fri Sep 5 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Rain later tonight into Friday, followed by periods of lake effect rain showers through the weekend.
- Windy conditions on Friday, especially over the Great Lakes.
- Becoming milder next week.
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.SHORT TERM /THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON/... Issued at 307 PM EDT Thu Sep 4 2025
Pattern Synopsis and Forecast:
Vigorous upper trough digs from the Upper Midwest into Lake MI tonight, pulled poleward by the deep upper low well to the north in Ontario during the day on Friday. Thus, precipitation potential expected later tonight into portions of Friday, favoring areas west of 75 and especially north into the E UP. Relatively deep low pressure system consequent of the upper trough will result in a tight pressure gradient over the area and a stout low level wind field. Thus, windy conditions are anticipated not only over the Great Lakes, but land as well.
Primary Forecast Concerns:
Windy Conditions:
Arguably the most impactful weather over the next 24 hrs will be the windy conditions that develop later tonight into portions of Friday. Clouds and precipitation will result in relatively shallow mixing, and so this will likely mute the potential on land to some extent. However, a period of pretty strong wind gusts will be possible during the early portions of Friday as the stronger low level winds move overhead. Generally, wind gusts will be around 30 to 40 mph through the day with occasional gusts over 40 mph not out of the question. Some of the progged sounding profiles do show the potential for a brief period of even stronger wind gusts (near advisory) during that Friday AM time frame and along the shorelines, but the spatial extent and brief nature of the strongest winds will preclude any sort of mention otherwise. Winds will begin to slowly tapper, to an extent, Friday evening and night.
Precipitation Potential:
Some lake effect precipitation may linger into this evening across the Tip of the Mitt and near the Bridge. Winds will shift to the southwest as well out ahead of the incoming trough this evening and early overnight, resulting in perhaps some additional southwest lake effect rain showers. Some guidance suggests this potential which makes sense (POPs reflect this). Main forcing arrives after Midnight and into portions of Friday, as a multitude of lifting mechanisms spread in from the west. For certain, the best avenue for wetting precipitation will be west of 75 and especially into portions of the UP as the best forcing for ascent overspreads this region. Could be a healthy rain for some, with an embedded storm or two, although meager instability limits any serious convective threat outside of a water spout or two (even then the low level winds are pretty strong). Nevertheless, several pieces of deterministic guidance show the potential for 0.75"+ rains, best potential across western Mack and Chipp counties. Supplement this with ENS guidance showing low to medium probs (roughly 20 to 50%) for greater than 1" in the same location provides credence to the idea of wetting rains.
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.LONG TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... Issued at 307 PM EDT Thu Sep 4 2025
Day 2-3 (Saturday-Sunday):
Cold pool aloft from a deepening 500 mb trough lingers overhead through the weekend with lower tropospheric temps remaining seasonably cool and fall like. Thus, high temperatures will be in the 50s much of the area, better chance for 60s near Saginaw Bay. Winds remain a slight tinge breezy, but generally gusting between 15 and 25 mph at times. Due to the cool temperatures aloft and relatively warm lakes, lake effect/enhanced showers remain through the weekend. Best potential for more spatial coverage/intensity in precip will likely be later Sat into the overnight as DPVA increases from the west. Would assume at least some waterspout potential as well.
Days 4-7 (Monday - Thursday):
Although milder next week as heights aloft increase, at least some shower potential exists, mainly mid week as troughiness continues to spin off to the north. Hard to discern much in the way of details at this time, but as of now, northern MI is not outlooked in any national products (excessive rain, thunder, or otherwise) and winds appear relatively light. Thus, potential for impactful weather, outcome of some precipitation potential, remains low.
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.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 129 AM EDT Fri Sep 5 2025
Showers will become more widespread early this morning. A few TSRA will be possible, especially CIU/PLN. Winds will continue to increase, quite strong/gusty just after sunrise, with LLWS in spots. Expect MVFR cigs Friday morning all sites but APN, which should stay VFR. Improving conditions late Friday into Fri night.
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.APX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MI...Beach Hazards Statement through Saturday morning for MIZ016>018-020-021-024>026-030-031-036-042-088-095>099. MARINE...Gale Warning until 4 PM EDT this afternoon for LHZ345>349. Gale Warning until noon EDT today for LMZ323-341-342-344>346. Small Craft Advisory from 5 AM early this morning to 1 AM EDT Saturday for LSZ321-322.
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SHORT TERM...JLD LONG TERM...JLD AVIATION...JZ
NWS APX Office Area Forecast Discussion