Dry Into The Weekend, Summer Returns.....

Good Morning!

The title pretty much sums it up for you, we have warmer temperatures coming, well into the 80's in fact, by Saturday, and rain chances are still looking slim for the next few days.  Let's pop the hood and have a look...

TEMPERATURES:  Temperatures continues to warm back into summer levels, with daytime highs into the low to mid 80's and nighttime lows only rolling back to the 60's by the weekend.  Dewpoints also start to climb some, making it feel a bit more humid.  I don't expect to see any oppressive heat or humidity the next several days, but there will be no mistaking that summer is back.  If you want to go for a dip to cool down over the weekend, expect the water to be not as warm as in June and July with the unseasonably cool nights we have had the last week or so.  The flattening of the western upper air ridge continues through the weekend according to computer modeling, then another ridge/trough setup is on the table for next week, that should cool us down again somewhat.

RAIN:  The National Weather Service has shuffled the deck for the next five days regarding rain.  Yesterday was dry, today, the forecast calling for a quarter-inch to half-inch of rain in most of the blog area, that looks to come in later on Sunday sometime, if this is right.  Here's the map for you...

5 Day Precipitation Forecast

A disturbance is forecast to start in central Missouri late Saturday night and track up into Michigan by late Sunday night, aided by a low-level jet streak pushing it along.  That's when we'll see our best shot at showers and perhaps a thunderstorm or two.

SEVERE WEATHER:  The Storm Prediction Center still has a fairly quiet forecast in place for us for the next three days, with just general storm activity in the northern half of Michigan tomorrow and that's about it.

The developing severe weather story away from Michigan is Tropical Storm Isaac.  Depending on which forecast model I look at he could hit the Gulf Coast around the Florida Panhandle, other models have him turning right and becoming a potential issue for the Atlantic Coast.  Either way, I'll be watching.  Direct impact to Michigan would be non-existent or minimal at best, maybe showers and storms migrating up from the Gulf in conjunction with a low pressure system, if he in fact does make landfall there on the Gulf Coast.

Grand Rapids NEXRAD is quiet and not a cloud to be found in South Central Michigan.
  

Visible Satellite Image

Here's the forecast for Jackson and surrounding communities including Grass Lake and Liberty Township...

Today, sunny and seasonably warm, high 82, winds SW calm to 5 MPH.

Tonight, clear and moonlit, not quite as cool as past nights, lows roll back to 51, winds SW calm to 4 MPH.

Thursday, continued sunny and warm, high 83, winds S 4-9 MPH.

Thursday night, more moonlight and maybe a scattered cloud, warmer, nighttime lows roll back to 58, winds SW 3-6 MPH.

Friday, periods of clouds and sunshine, warmer, high 85.

Saturday, sunny, warm, high 86.

Sunday, sunny to start, clouds increase during the day, a chance of a few widely scattered showers or a roaming thunderstorm, high 82.

Monday, mostly cloudy skies, scattered showers and a couple of thunderstorms are possible, high 81.

Tuesday, partly cloudy and cooler, high 79.

There's a look at your forecast for the next six days, I do hope that you have a great hump day Wednesday!  Blessings.