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000
FXUS63 KMQT 221744
AFDMQT

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Marquette MI
144 PM EDT Fri Sep 22 2017

.SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight)
Issued at 504 AM EDT FRI SEP 22 2017

Tricky forecast today with convection potential through at least
late morning. Hi-res models have been back and forth on when and if
a line of showers and thunderstorms tracks across the U.P. If the
storms do cross the area this could keep the temperatures a bit
lower through at least the first half of the day.

Today: Strong moisture transport/moisture convergence on the nose of
a LLJ and along a warm front lifting northward through the area will
continue to be the focus of showers and thunderstorms this morning.
Some of the hi-res models try to develop an MCS over western MN
early this morning and them shift it eastward into the west half of
the area by mid morning into the early afternoon hours, but it may
be tough for the storms to make it too far east into the U.P. with
850mb ridging in place along with diminishing LLJ/convergence and a
bit lower MUCAPE over the east half of the U.P. Still worth keeping
the mention of at least scattered showers and thunderstorms in the
forecast through early afternoon. The moisture transport weakens
throughout the day as the LLJ diminishes by mid to late morning and
the associated convergence weakens and lifts to the northeast of the
area. This should bring an end to the shower and thunderstorm
activity across much of the area as a very warm nose of air slides
in aloft by early to mid afternoon. In fact, 850 temps are progged
to warm to around 25C by early afternoon, which will allow
temperatures to warm into at least the mid 80s across much of the
area. The exceptions will be over the east half of the U.P. down
wind of Lake MI on southerly winds. On top of the hot temperatures
today, increasing moisture, with dewpoints in the upper 60s to
around 70, will make it feel very uncomfortable. Many locations will
likely see heat index values around 90 or in the low 90s by mid to
late afternoon.

Tonight: A surface low over the Plains is expected to lift
northeastward to the MN/Ontario border by 06Z/23. This along with
another developing LLJ over the far western U.P./Western Lake
Superior and much of norhtern MN will allow for increasing chance of
showers and thunderstorms. Again, similar to last night into early
Friday morning, the main area of concentraition will mostly likely
be over northn MN; however, where the stronger moisture
transport/convergence is likely to set up on the nose of the LLJ.
Where thunderstorms do form, some of them may become strong to
marginally severe as effective shear increases with LLJ development.
The rest of the U.P. will remain capped and far enough away from the
main system dynamics to force any showers and thunderstorms.

.LONG TERM...(Saturday through Thursday)
Issued at 455 AM EDT FRI SEP 22 2017

Models suggest that a slowly progressive but amplified pattern
will prevail with a prominent mid/upper level ridge over the Great
Lakes this weekend giving way to troughing by the middle of next
week. Much above normal temps and dewpoints are expected into
Monday with record highs and record high mins likely for many
locations.

Saturday into Sunday, even with a strong subsidence inversion under
the 590 DM ridge over the region, forecast mixing to near 850 mb
temps around 20C will support readings in the upper 80s over much of
the area except downwind of Lake Michigan. Adding to the discomfort
will be dewpoints into the mid and upper 60s. Low temps should also
remain in the upper 60s with some downslope locations around 70.
Capping should be strong to minimize shra/tsra chances, per
NAM/ECMWF keeping the pcpn to the north and west. However, the
frontal zone over ne MN into wrn Lake Superior by late Saturday may
allow some shra/tsra into the far west from IWD to CMX by late
Saturday into Saturday evening, per GEM/GFS/GEFS.

Mon-Tue, shra/tsra chances should increase by late Monday into
Monday night as the mid level trough advances into the plains and
the front approaches. The best chance for rain is expected by Tuesday
as a stronger shrtwv and associated low lifts ne near Lake Superior
and drags the front through the area. Although temps will remain
above normal, greater cloud cover will keep max readings mainly in
the 70s Monday and the upper 60s to mid 70s Tuesday.

Wed-Thu, Cooler/drier air should finally take over with breezy wnw
winds behind the front. 850 mb temps dropping to around 1C along
with wrap-around moisture will bring potential for some sct light
showers. Highs will drop back into upper 50s to mid 60s Wed and the
upper 50s by Thursday.
&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Saturday afternoon)
Issued at 132 PM EDT FRI SEP 22 2017

Challenging forecast in near term in regards to timing of
convection moving across TAF sites. Also gusty southerly wake low
winds to near 30 mph are developing behind the stronger convection
and may continue into late afternoon. T-storms have moved mostly east
of KIWD and KCMX but will affect KSAW through 20z with possible
MVFR conditions before shower activity begins to taper off at all
sites and VFR conditions finally prevail. Should be enough mixing
from southerly winds to preclude fog development tonight and keep
conditions VFR. A low-level wind max moving across the region will
result in LLWS at all TAF sites tonight into early Sat.
&&

.MARINE...(For the 4 AM Lake Superior forecast issuance)
Issued at 504 AM EDT FRI SEP 22 2017

Low to mid 60s dewpoints sliding across Lake Superoior are expected
to linger into early next week bringing patchy fog for several days
across the lake. Some of the fog could be locally dense at times.
Expect winds to generally be below 20 knots through the early part
of next week under a weak pressure gradient.
&&

.MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Upper Michigan...
None.
Lake Superior...
None.
Lake Michigan...
None.
&&

$$

SHORT TERM...KEC
LONG TERM...JLB
AVIATION...Voss
MARINE...KEC