WEST MICHIGAN — After Friday and Saturday being well in to the 70s for high temperatures with plenty of sunshine, Mother Nature will now return us to reality as a pattern shift will drive home sharply cooler temperatures.
We’ve also had several brush fires reported around the area this weekend due to the high fire danger (warm/dry/low relative humidity/etc.), that danger will diminish by Sunday afternoon/evening as rain will likely overspread the area. Most of our computer forecast models are indicating the possibility of a decent soaking rain between .75″ and 1.25″.
A well defined upper level trough in our jet stream will set up shop over the Great lakes the next several days. These troughs are usually associated with clouds, precipitation, and cooler temperatures…generally unsettled weather. While I can’t rule out a rumble of thunder Sunday or Monday, severe weather is NOT likely.
Clouds, precipitation, and the upper level trough will allow us only highs in the 40s for at least a few days next week. Average high temps for this time of year have us in the upper 50s to near 60.
The image attached to this story is from one of our computer forecast models and is a snapshot from around 18,000 feet above the surface (the 500 millibar level for you weather geeks and pilots). This level shows meteorologists the trough and ridge pattern in the upper levels of the atmosphere. Notice the upper level low pressure system just north of Wisconsin and the trough/dip over the Great Lakes (as indicated by those thin white/gray lines). Also note the green and yellow colors over the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes as energy rotates or pivots around the low. That will generally keep West Michigan in the clouds, cooler temps, and an occasional shower a majority of next week.
For the complete forecast click over to www.fox17online.com/weather.
