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Pesky upper low will depart the Great Lakes after seven days

Posted at 7:53 AM, Oct 02, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-02 07:53:16-04

WEST MICHIGAN — Last week Monday I talked about an upper level low pressure system that would meander across the Great Lakes for days bringing us clouds, occasional showers, and temperatures below normal. Read that post here. Some seven days later this low will finally begin to lift out of the region.

Why did it plague us for so long? The low was cut-off or disconnected from the upper level jet stream that moves these systems across the country from west to east. We call this type of system a cold core cut off low. By Sunday night and Monday the low will be edged out of the region thanks to an approaching cold front and trough over the western half of the nation.

Take a look at our forecast model about 18,000 feet or about 500 millibars above the surface. This level shows upper level energy and disturbances. The map is valid on Sunday morning and one can clearly see the “low” over Michigan.

gfs-sun

Note the same upper level map, but valid on Monday morning. Note the “low” moving/lifting out of our region moving east in to Canada.

gfs-mon

Low clouds may linger through Monday morning, but we should begin to see some sunshine Monday afternoon. Tuesday and Wednesday look dry with more sunshine and temperatures responding accordingly reaching the mid/upper 70s. Mid 60s are normal/average for this time of year. Get the complete forecast at www.fox17online.com/weather.