707 FXUS63 KGRR 171921 AFDGRRArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI Issued by National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac MI 321 PM EDT Wed Sep 17 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Very warm temperatures again on Thursday.
- A little cooler Friday into Saturday. Warmer with increasing rain chances by the end of the weekend.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 318 PM EDT Wed Sep 17 2025
Mid level riding and sfc high pressure overhead will support light and variable winds and optimal radiational cooling tonight, allowing nighttime mins to drop down into the 50s. Fog potential tonight will be through radiational processes and most favorable in low lying areas. Mid level short wave energy will cause some suppression of the mid level ridge axis across the northern Great Lakes tonight and will drive a weak cold front south into central Lower Mi by late Thursday afternoon. An axis of low level moisture is forecast to advect into the frontal boundary and result in weak instability as the front advances into Central Lower Mi. Hi res model guidance suggests enhanced low level frontal convergence aided by flow off Saginaw Bay will result in scattered late day convection across the Tri Cities, Mt Pleasant and Clare. A few solutions actually suggest some residual convection pushing southward toward Flint and Lansing by evening with some erosion of the mid level cap. Otherwise prefrontal warmth and respectable mixing heights will result in another very warm day with highs possibly well into the 80s.
Mid level ridging is forecast re expand across Lower Mi Thurs night into Friday. The strength of the northeasterly gradient across Lake Huron will hold the lower tropospheric front over Lower Mi despite the increasing mid level height field. This will result in a respectable thermal gradient across southern Michigan. Locations around Kalamazoo and Battle Creek are likely to remain in the warm sector, resulting in highs in the low 80s again while temps from central Michigan across the thumb region may be stuck in the 60s. The depth of moisture trapped under a deep frontal inversion will result in more cloud cover across much of the area. Model soundings have some indications of a drizzle potential Thurs night into Friday from Central Michigan/Tri Cities across the thumb.
The blocking pattern which has held strong mid level ridging overhead for the last week will gradually break down this weekend as the mid level flow becomes more progressive. The upper low now over the northern plains will lift across the northern Great Lakes this weekend, driving mid level high falls across Lower Mi. Southerly flow will also advect a little deeper moisture into the Great Lakes toward Sunday, warranting a the next chance for rain. Residual low level dry air associated with departing high pressure to the east support a continued dry forecast through at least the afternoon Saturday.
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.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 146 PM EDT Wed Sep 17 2025
Clear skies are observed across much of lower MI this afternoon, with any diurnal cu field tied closely to marine layer moisture. High pressure ensures a generally quiet TAF period with light and variable winds expected for the rest of today and tonight. Several sites reported BR/FG this morning, with similar conditions expected again Thursday morning due to favorable radiative cooling and calm winds. TEMPO groups were included to highlight the morning fog window. By mid-day Thursday, a cold front reaches the northern portions of the airspace and organizes light winds out of the northwest in its wake.
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.MARINE... Issued at 328 AM EDT Wed Sep 17 2025
Winds build tomorrow behind the backdoor cold front with northerly winds around 10 to 20 knots. Easterly winds then return until more southwesterly flow develops Sunday and continues into next week. With this change in the wind there will also be chances for showers and even a few thunderstorms. At this time Small Craft Advisory conditions are not expected over the next week.
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.GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MI...None. MARINE...None.
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DISCUSSION...SC AVIATION...MV MARINE...99
NWS GRR Office Area Forecast Discussion