GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (July 10, 2014) — After a beautiful Thursday and a nice day Friday as well, a huge weather pattern shift will start to take place. This could usher in some record-setting cool temperatures next week, but the transition could be bumpy this weekend.
The above image is from our in-house computer model, Future Track, and shows conditions Saturday evening. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely, with the possibility of severe weather. The map below shows the current risk area for severe weather on Saturday. This is from the Storm Prediction Center:
However, I believe this risk will expand northward and include most of West Michigan by Saturday. We’ll update the severe weather potential in future posts and newscasts.
The threat of storms continues Sunday and early Monday as well. This will be followed by some unusually cool air for Tuesday through Thursday. The map below shows the upper-level flow on Wednesday morning. That “dip” you see over the Midwest is what we call a trough of low pressure. This allows cold air from the north to spill into the trough. Because this trough is unusually strong, there will be plenty of cool air to draw in from the north.
The air is so cool, in fact, that some record cool daytime highs could be established. On Tuesday, FOX 17 is forecasting a high of 70 degrees. That may even be too warm. Either way, that date’s record cool high won’t be threatened. The current record is 58, set in 1987. There is no way we won’t get to at least 58.
However, the next day, Wednesday (7/16), the record cool high temperature is 74, set in 1958. We are forecasting a high of just 73. So, if all goes according to plan, this Wednesday could be the coolest July 16th on record.
We will continue to monitor this still-developing weather pattern shift. Join us for updates on FOX 17 News, or visit the weather page anytime at http://www.fox17online.com/weather
