328 FXUS63 KDTX 170733 AFDDTXArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac MI 333 AM EDT Wed Sep 17 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Above average high temperatures continue through this weekend aside from a brief return to near near normal temperatures Friday.
- Weak cold front Thursday brings a low chance (15%) to see an isolated late day light shower. Otherwise, dry pattern persists through this weekend.
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.DISCUSSION...
Extended dry, seasonably warm pattern continues as high pressure remains centered over the central Great Lakes. As has been the case the past several mornings, patchy fog developed late last night, focused mostly in the Thumb, which will lingers into the morning commute. Fog quickly dissipates by mid-morning setting up another mostly sunny day with highs topping out in the low to mid 80s. While skies clear out around sunset this evening, rex block over the eastern CONUS fully breaks down allowing a weak northern shortwave to drift out of the western Great Lakes into southern Ontario. High cloud associated with this wave arrive late tonight preventing the same level of radiational cooling as prior nights as lows hold in the mid 50s which also should limit, if not prevent, another round of early morning fog development.
A weak backdoor cold front follows the wave`s passage, dropping through SE MI latter half of the day Thursday. In advance of the front, lower level flow turns more westerly drawing in a piece of richer theta-e airmass from the upper Mississippi into southern lower MI pushing surface Td`s into the lower 60s. Overall forcing is weak given the nature of the front and upper support focused over southern Ontario by this point, however, increasing moisture partially overlapping with peak heating looks to generate at least of a few hundred J/kg of MLCAPE. With the bulk of model guidance keying in on this setup and attempting to generate a few late day showers, opted to add in slight chance mentions (15-20%) for the afternoon thru late evening period. `Best` chances to see a light shower currently look to occur north of M-59.
Modestly cooler Friday as the front settles south of the state setting up northeasterly flow into SE MI. Given the winds off lake Huron, the Thumb will be the coolest area with highs ranging from near 60 on the lakeshore to upper 60s-near 70 inland. Areas south of M-59 stand the see the warmest temps with highs still in the mid- upper 70s to near 80 possible towards the Ohio border. Mid-upper ridging then is re-established Friday night through the weekend maintaining the dry pattern and above normal temps in the upper 70s and 80s. Next chances to see wider spread rainfall won`t arrive until Sunday night-Monday thru early next week.
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.MARINE...
A ridge of high pressure continues to bring an extended period of dry weather and lighter winds to the Great Lakes through most of the week. Winds continue to favor a light easterly component, with some gradual backing to the south and then north tonight into Thursday. A secondary high pressure system is expected to drop from the central Canadian provinces into Ontario and Quebec late this week, which will strengthen the pressure gradient over the Great Lakes region. This will veer winds east to northeast and will bring some elevated wind speeds across Lake Huron. Sustained winds 15 to 20 knots with gust potential near 25 knots will be possible through the Saginaw Bay and portions of southern Lake Huron to end the week.
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.PREV DISCUSSION... Issued at 1157 PM EDT Tue Sep 16 2025
AVIATION...
High pressure will maintain VFR conditions through the early portion of the night. The light to clam winds plus clear skies will likely lead to fog development during the early morning hours that may bring periods of MVFR to IFR VSBY as well as some IFR stratus off off the lakes. MBS and FNT appear to be the more favored location for lower VSBY restrictions. Confidence is low on exactly where denser fog sets up. Conditions improve by around 13Z with high pressure continuing to bring dry conditions and VFR skies. Flow turns north to northeast tomorrow with potential for light easterly flow across the southern metro terminals during the afternoon.
For DTW/D21 Convection...No thunderstorms expected through the TAF period.
THRESHOLD PROBABILITIES...
* Low for ceilings at or below 200 feet between 09Z and 13Z this morning.
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.DTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MI...None. Lake Huron...None. Lake St Clair...None. Michigan waters of Lake Erie...None. &&
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DISCUSSION...KDK MARINE.......AM AVIATION.....AA
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NWS DTX Office Area Forecast Discussion