Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Grand Rapids, MI

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509 FXUS63 KGRR 011125 AFDGRR Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI 725 AM EDT Sat Jun 1 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Rain and slight chance thunderstorm this afternoon-tonight - Lingering humidity and cloud patches on Sunday - Medium/High Confidence in evolution of upper troughing next week && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 319 AM EDT Sat Jun 1 2024 - Rain and slight chance thunderstorm this afternoon-tonight Midlevel trough and surface low over Missouri will move into Illinois today. Ahead of it, dry air will be in place through early afternoon in Michigan with dew points at or below 50. High and mid altitude clouds will thicken as precipitation nudges closer, eventually moistening the low levels and cooling off temperatures once rain reaches the surface this afternoon-evening. HREF and global model ensembles have come into much better alignment compared to 24 hours ago regarding rain chances, and now the scenario for little to no rain seems to be remote, at least for areas south of US-10. The arrival of rain is likely in West Michigan during mid-late afternoon (3-5 pm or so) and near US-127 during the evening (8-9 pm). Rain should move out late in the night or early in the morning. Forecast soundings during the middle of the event show moisture and lift through much of the troposphere. Lapse rates in the low-mid levels that are neutrally buoyant and possibly slightly unstable for moist parcels may also support a period of more efficient rainfall production in some spots. The chance of lightning is slight but not zero. Broadly, 0.25 to 0.75 inch rain totals are most favored but there could be embedded spots or small swaths of 1 to 1.5 inch totals, per ensemble guidance. - Lingering humidity and cloud patches on Sunday Moisture in the low levels will linger on Sunday as the trough departs, and there may be drizzle early in the day. Temperatures should warm back up to seasonable levels but dew points near 60 will make it feel a little more sticky. The HRRR is less enthusiastic about ridging and warming in the midlevels, so it does touch off some afternoon showers south/east of Grand Rapids. Will go with a 10 percent chance of measurable rainfall. - Medium/High Confidence in evolution of upper troughing next week Ensemble spread is lower than usual and good run to run consistency is indicating higher confidence in the details for sensible weather next week. There continues to be a signal for rain Monday and Tuesday as a shortwave trough approaches and minors out...then a stronger signal on Wednesday as a well-defined shortwave cuts off as it approaches from the Northern Plains. This low figures in the evolution of persistent troughing across the Great Lakes by the end of the week with lower 500 mb heights and low level northwest flow indicating cooler than normal temperatures into next weekend. && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY/...
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Issued at 725 AM EDT Sat Jun 1 2024 VFR conditions through this morning then MVFR conditions overspread Lower Michigan from the south during the afternoon. Conditions will lower to IFR across southern Lower Michigan on Saturday evening as rain becomes more steady, then LIFR after midnight. Winds will be generally southeast less than 10 knots into this evening then light and variable overnight.
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&& .MARINE... Issued at 319 AM EDT Sat Jun 1 2024 Fairly light winds and 1-2 foot waves continue through the weekend. Patches of fog may develop over the lake Saturday night into Sunday morning, in the wake of the rain that will arrive this afternoon. A moderate swim risk is possible near/north of Whitehall on Monday due to waves building amid a south breeze. && .GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MI...None. MARINE...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Ostuno/CAS AVIATION...Ostuno MARINE...CAS