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Wind, warmth, and rain arrive Friday

Posted at 12:14 PM, Feb 16, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-16 12:14:52-05

WEST MICHIGAN — Normal high temperatures this time of year have us in the low/mid 30s. By Friday, highs will be pushing in to the upper 40s to near 50 degrees! But enjoy it, they will gradually drop off back in to the 30s by next week.

A strong, developing low pressure system hitting the Pacific Northwest will eventually track eastward along the U.S. Canadian border and strengthen. Winds will really ramp up ahead of this system beginning late Thursday and persist in to Friday. That will also help transport warmer temperatures in to the Great Lakes.

We may see a light mix of precipitation arrive later Thursday, before everything changes to all rain Friday. The wind, warmer temperatures, and rain should melt the remainder of the snow across the area. The image attached to this story is from one of our forecast models about 5,000 feet above the surface. You can see the warmer colors and tones of green pushing in to the Great Lakes with a strong southerly flow. Notice the sharply colder air remains locked up further north in Canada.

Click here for the complete West Michigan forecast.