Cloudy And Wet, Much Cooler For The Weekend...

Good Morning!

We wake this Thursday to some needed, beneficial rain as showers and thunderstorms move through the area.  Even though this is too late to affect the drought situation as we head into the latter part of summer (I hate saying that), we can still use it to green up things some and perhaps salvage some part of the crops this year.  Time to pop the hood and see what we have going on today...

TEMPERATURES:  The rain-cooled air that we will be under today and into tomorrow will limit temperature climb.  Most places in the blog should briefly get near 80, before an afternoon round of showers and thunderstorms cranks up, as we get some daytime heating and a surface low working in tandem with an upper air disturbance.  Both of those features are tracking right at us.  On the back side of that, the upper air trough deepens and pushes south, opening the door for more of that cool dry air from north of the border to filter in.  Temperatures should stay below 80 until next week!  You might almost consider this a hint of autumn.

RAIN:  Lookie here!  The National Weather Service is predicting over two inches of rain for a good chunk of the Lower Peninsula.  Bring it on!  The medium and long-range forecasting was on target this go round, and I busted a little bit, by saying that the forecast rain totals looked a bit ambitious to me earlier this week.  Of course, the forecast could change again on the next computer run and we go to bone dry, depending on how the modeling stacks up.  At any rate, here's the map from the National Weather Service, showing the amounts for the next five days:

5 Day Precipitation Forecast

The only suggestion I have to add at this point is that I think the eastern part of the Lower Peninsula may trend a bit wetter than this forecast shows.  We have some decent shower activity going northwest of us, up toward Muskegon and Ludington.  We take a bit of a time out later this morning, then we'll see more rain this afternoon and evening, continuing into Friday.

SEVERE WEATHER:  The Storm Prediction Center is showing a "slight" risk for severe storms that covers specifically the south zone of the blog.  Branch, Hillsdale, Lenawee, and the southern halves of Calhoun, Jackson and Washtenaw counties, you're in play for this one.  Here's a look at that graphic:

SPC Day 1 Forecast Map

SPC's forecast suggests damaging wind and perhaps some hail as the main threats from any storms that get to that point.  From my perch here, there's a shot at that happening.  It hinges on what kind of afternoon heating we get, and what shape the atmosphere is in after this morning round of rain moves on out.

The Grand Rapids NEXRAD image shows an echo-filled radar, with plenty of gentle, soaking greens and yellows.

Grand Rapids NEXRAD Radar

Here's a look at the visible satellite image, showing a picture chock full of clouds over this area, and going a ways back west as well...

Visible Satellite Image

Here's the forecast for Jackson and surrounding communities including Vandercook Lake and Rives Junction:

For today, cloudy skies, an outside chance of a peek at sunshine after lunchtime.  Showers and thunderstorms taper off late morning, then re-start in the afternoon, especially south of I-96.  High 74, winds ENE 5-10 MPH.

Tonight, continued cloudy, scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms expected, some could be strong or even severe, lows roll back to 60, winds ENE 3-8 MPH.

Friday, more overcast skies, scattered to numerous showers and perhaps a couple of roaming thunderstorms persist throughout the morning then slowly taper off in coverage, high 71, winds NE 5-10 MPH.

Friday night, clouds stay around, along with them, a chance of widely scattered or scattered showers, low 59, winds NNE 3-8 MPH.

Saturday, finally some clearing, partly sunny skies, continued unseasonably cool, perhaps an isolated lingering shower as the cold front travels east, high 74, winds NNW 5-10 MPH.

Sunday, a mix of clouds and sunshine, a touch warmer, high 75, winds NW 5-10 MPH.

Back to work on Monday, mostly cloudy skies, a chance of widely scattered or scattered showers, high 74.

Tuesday, clouds stay around, and along with them the chance of a scattered shower or a lonely thunderstorm, high 76.

There's a look at a pretty wet six day forecast for you, I hope you have a great Thursday!
Blessings.