591 FXUS63 KAPX 202329 AFDAPXArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Gaylord MI 729 PM EDT Sat Sep 20 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Scattered showers and storms at times through the weekend.
- Marginal Risk for severe storms Sunday.
- Shower chances continue at times Monday through much of the week with near to slightly above normal temperatures.
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.SHORT TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/... Issued at 200 PM EDT Sat Sep 20 2025
Pattern Synopsis/Forecast: Upstream trough axis is situated from the Canadian Prairies southeastward into the TN Valley this afternoon. Center of associated surface reflection sits over northwest MN with a nearly stationary warm front draped to our west/southwest. LLJ ramps up tonight with moisture advection expected as that warm front lifts northward, eventually shifting north of the forecast area later Sunday afternoon. Combined with increasing upper-level support and continued shower/storm chances will be the rule through the remainder of the weekend.
Forecast Details: Some showers and a rumble of thunder linger this afternoon, primarily across parts of northwest lower and the eastern U.P. Additional, more numerous, showers and embedded storm are expected to arrive across western areas this evening with those chances spreading east overnight. Given increasing ample moisture this evening with PWs progged as high as 1.4" west of I-75 and potentially some pockets of instability, locally heavy downpours are the main concern through tonight (as has already been the case so far today with localized radar estimated rainfall of 2-5" across parts of western Antrim County).
For Sunday, expecting shortwave energy, on the southeast periphery of incoming parent trough axis, to trek across northern MI Sunday into Sunday night. Expecting another round of showers/storms during the day into Sunday night, depending on timing of this wave. Latest trends support the focus for this to be across north-central and northeast lower -- coinciding with the area that SPC has outlooked for a Marginal Risk for severe storms on Sunday. Combination of potentially a few hundred J/kg of instability and deep layer shear on the order of 25-30 knots may support that low end threat -- albeit latest hi-res guidance trends are far from impressive with this notion. High temperatures expected to be in the upper 60s far north and from the low-mid 70s across much of northern lower. Few points creeping into the low-mid 60s yielding a more muggy feel.
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.LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... Issued at 200 PM EDT Sat Sep 20 2025
Pattern Forecast: Some semblance of upper-level troughing is expected to continue across the nation`s midsection through the vast majority of the long-term forecast period. Initial system crossing the area this weekend largely departs Monday with a weak cold front crossing during the day. Beyond that, waves of additional mid-upper level energy combined with diurnal processes may continue shower/storm chances at times through at least midweek onward. The envelope of solutions widens late week -- largely hinging on evolution of the upper air pattern/interaction between upper ridging building across Ontario and potential cutoff upper low over the mid- MS and OH valleys.
Forecast Details: Shower and storm potential continues Sunday night with a continued low-end strong storm threat into the evening hours. Locally heavy downpours still a good bet, however, with PWs progged nearly 2 SD above the mid-late September climatological mean.
Combination of continued upper-level energy overhead Monday, cold front progressing across the forecast area and lingering instability/moisture should yield a continued shower/storm threat for parts of Monday and Monday night. Similar story for Tuesday with lingering precipitation chances as energy pinwheeling overhead combines with diurnally driven instability to potentially produce some additional showers/storms, most numerously during the afternoon/early evening hours.
Less confidence prevails midweek onward, largely hinging on the evolution of the upper air pattern. By and large, two differing solutions exist within the latest suite of deterministic guidance. One that pulls upper-level low pressure northward from the mid-MS and Ohio valleys resulting in widespread precipitation chances late in the week. Opposing solution keeps that upper-low suppressed well to the south with primarily dry weather locally. Majority of ensemble members/means favoring the latter of those two solutions and continue with that trend in the forecast.
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.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/... Issued at 729 PM EDT Sat Sep 20 2025
Showers and a few storms become increasingly likely tonight and Sunday. Brief vsby restrictions are likely at some point, but VFR will be the most prevailing condition thru the TAF period. Some MVFR cigs are possible on Sunday, best chance at CIU. Se breezes continue.
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.APX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MI...Beach Hazards Statement until 4 AM EDT Sunday for MIZ017-018- 088-096-097. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 4 AM EDT Sunday for LHZ345>348. Small Craft Advisory until 4 AM EDT Sunday for LMZ341-342. Small Craft Advisory until 4 AM EDT Sunday for LSZ322. Small Craft Advisory until 11 AM EDT Sunday for LSZ321.
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SHORT TERM...MJG LONG TERM...MJG AVIATION...JZ
NWS APX Office Area Forecast Discussion