Felch, Michigan Weather Forecast Discussion

382
FXUS63 KMQT 171927
AFDMQT
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Marquette MI
327 PM EDT Wed Sep 17 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected this
  afternoon across central and eastern Upper Michigan.
- More seasonable temperatures Thursday and through the weekend.
- Their will be chances for showers and possibly a thunderstorm
  through early next week
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 327 PM EDT Wed Sep 17 2025
This afternoon the upper level ridge of high pressure continues to
break down over the Great Lakes as troughing approaches from the
west. The upper level trough extended from the Hudson Bay south into
the Central Rockies with two upper level low pressures, one in the
base of the trough over Wyoming and another over southern
 moving south, downstream of an upper level ridge that
extended from the West Coast to Alberta. At the surface low pressure
was developing over the Central Plains while a large area of high
pressure over Canada approached from the north, with a cold front
pushing south through the U.P. Temperatures had climbed into the 70s
and lower 80s with abundant sunshine this afternoon. Scattered
thunderstorms affected portions of Menominee and Delta Counties
this morning but diminished by mid-morning. Additional thunderstorms
had developed along the cold front, where it was intersecting a lake
breeze boundary over central and eastern Marquette County. Some of
the storms were strong with heavy rainfall and frequent lightning,
lightning strikes up to 20 miles away from the storms has been
occuring under the anvils.
The rest of today into tonight expect the cold front to push south
trough the U.P with northerly winds developing behind it. While the
airmass isn`t unusually cold for this time of year it will bring
notably cooler temperatures for tonight through the Saturday (50s
for lows and 60s for highs), closer to seasonal averages. Scattered
showers and thunderstorms will continue to develop and track south
into Dickinson, Alger, Delta and Menominee counties. There is plenty
of instability being analyzed in this area, up to 2k J/kg CAPE but
little in the way of shear. This will keep the individual updrafts
short lived as the front sags south and limit the severe potential.
The main threat will be frequent lightning, small hail and heavy
rainfall. Expecting showers and thunderstorms to diminish by late
evening. A period of fog could develop over the eastern half of the
U.P, especially in the north wind upslope areas late tonight as
cooler, moist air moves into the area.
On Thursday into Friday the two upper level lows over the central
and western U.S will pivot through the base of the trough and merge
into a single low pressure over the Dakotas. As this happens
multiple shortwaves will rotate through the Midwest keeping the
threat for showers and thunderstorms in the forecast. The first wave
will arrive Thursday morning with showers and possibly a
thunderstorm along the MI/WI border. The shortwave will weaken as it
moves into the U.P which will limit the threat for thunder. With
PWATs remaining high, >1.25", any showers or thunderstorms that form
could put out brief heavy rain. The main energy with Friday`s
shortwave looks to pass west of the area and the NBM maintains low
PoPs over the west. Some guidance has showers further east into the
central U.P which also seems like a reasonable solution as warm,
moist southerly flow overrides a frontal boundary that will be
stalled over the U.P. Didn`t deviate from the NBM at this time but
worth noting.
For the weekend the models diverge on the exact track of the upper
level low but overall it is expected to slowly move through the
northern U.S and into southern Ontario through the weekend. This
will keep the chance for precipitation in the forecast as multiple
shortwaves move through the area. This system will exit the area on
Monday. Temperatures will begin to moderate for Sunday into early
next week with highs in the 70s.
Early next week, another trough looks to move through central North
America. This may take on a negative tilt then stall overhead,
resulting in a deepening low pressure over the Upper Great Lakes
Tuesday/Wednesday. This will keep the chance for precipitation in
the forecast.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 156 PM EDT Wed Sep 17 2025
VFR conditions prevail across Upper Michigan as of 18z Wed, with a
line of broken cumulus apparent on visible satellite from roughly
KSAW back into north-central WI in association with an advancing
cold front. Hi-res guidance depicts a few showers and thunderstorms
developing along this boundary roughly 21-02z this evening, but for
the most part expect these storms to remain south of the terminals
and have thus left mention of TS out of the 18z TAF package. Expect
lowering cigs behind the front tonight, bringing MVFR conditions
starting 10-12z Thu. Upslope flow of of Lake SUperior could
bring some patchy fog and IFR to the central U.P. including KSAW
after 09- 10z. Expect conditions to trend back up towards VFR
with daytime heating at all sites 16-18z Thu.
&&
.MARINE...
Issued at 327 PM EDT Wed Sep 17 2025
Northeasterly winds will develop overnight as high pressure builds
into northern Ontario and low pressure develops over western MN and
the Dakotas. Over the west half of the lake northeast winds will
strengthen to 20-25 knots through Thursday and up to 30 knots on
Friday over the far western part of the lake. Over the east half
winds will generally be below 20 knots. Patchy fog will also be
possible over the far eastern part of the lake tonight as the
cooler, moist air moves into the area. Southerly winds return for
Saturday into early next week and are expected to mainly be below 20
knots.
&&
.MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Upper Michigan...
None.
Lake Superior...
None.
Lake Michigan...
None.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...JTP/NL
AVIATION...CB
MARINE...NL

NWS MQT Office Area Forecast Discussion