WEST MICHIGAN — After below normal temperatures from an upper level low pressure system and gray conditions the past few days, summer heat and humidity will build in to the Great Lakes as we enter the first week of September. It’s fair to say this will be some of the warmer, more humid air of the season, and it is expected to remain in place through at least Labor Day next week!
There also seems to be very few chances for showers or thunderstorms cropping up, but it is possible Tuesday across our southern counties, and again Wednesday and Thursday as a front sags in to the state. Just like last week when temperatures ran about eight to ten degrees below normal, they will be running about eight to ten degrees above normal the next several days.
The thumbnail attached to this story is from one of our computer forecast models valid Friday morning September 4. It is a snapshot at the 500 millibar level around 18,000 feet above the surface to show us the trough/ridge pattern. It’s easy to see the upper level jet stream winds pushing well north of the Great Lakes by a strong ridge/bubble of high pressure dominating the eastern half of the nation. Note the “H” located in the Midwest. The ridge remains firmly in place from the surface through the upper levels of the atmosphere and will likely stay that way through Labor Day. That means minimal rain chances, a stagnant pattern, and warm/humid conditions much of the time!
Perhaps it’s a fitting way for school kids to end the summer as the heat and humidity build just in time for the extended holiday weekend before students head back to school. Get the complete forecast at www.fox17online.com/weather.
