Sun Now, A Mixed Bag For The Weekend....

Good Morning!

A chilly night indeed in the area, with more than a few places reporting sub-freezing temperatures.  In fact a freeze warning was issued for Lenawee, Livingston, Shiawassee and Washtenaw counties until early this morning.  We'll keep the cool air around during the nights, but a warm-up is on the way.  And a severe weather risk is evolving southwest of us.  Let's pop the hood and see what we have going on under there...

TEMPERATURES:  Computer models are in good agreement that we get some high pressure in here the next couple of days, which will set up bright sunny days and clear, cold nights.  We're looking at nighttime lows in the 30's and daytime highs that are seasonable, in the 50's or lower 60's.  That being said, modeling is hinting at a possible 70 this weekend on Sunday!  After that we should hover in the upper 50's and lower 60's, so overall, a seasonable weather pattern.  Just keep an extra blanket handy for the evenings, or find someone or something to snuggle with!

RAIN:  We'll see a chance at some weekend rain this go-round.  Friday night high school football looks cool and dry, but your Saturday afternoon and evening college games are the ones that you'll have to worry about getting wet at, and that carries over into at least a little bit of Sunday.  Here's the five day precipitation forecast from the National Weather Service:

5 Day Precipitation Forecast

You see that most areas in the blog are coming in at about an inch of rain for the next five days.  I think what should hold fairly steady as we get additional data and get closer to the weekend, but the surface high that is coming this way will play a role in how much rain we get, depending as always on his timing and track.  I would plan on at least three-quarters of an inch of rain on the low side through early next week.

SEVERE WEATHER:  Nothing in this part of the world for the next three days at the moment, but I will say that the Storm Prediction Center is forecasting possible severe weather from Illinois and Wisconsin on back into the Plains.  Here's a look at that map for you:

Severe Weather Forecast Map Day 3 (Valid 8AM Saturday)

High dewpoint values mean lots of moist air around for a fairly strong surface low that is forecast to be in the area to play with and upset, likely kicking off some strong or even severe storms.  As we roll through the day today we'll know more about that.

Here's a look at the visible satellite image with NEXRAD composite overlaid on it...

Visible Satellite with NEXRAD Composite Overlay

You can see some showers and maybe a buried storm north of Saginaw and Clare as an upper disturbance moves through the area.  South of I-96 in our part of the world though, clear and cool.

Here's the forecast for Jackson and surrounding areas including Parma and Grass Lake:

Today, sunny skies, seasonably cool, high 57, winds SW 7-14 MPH.

Tonight, clear skies, chilly, nighttime lows near 33, winds NW 6-12 MPH.

Friday, clear skies to start, then clouds increase during the afternoon, not as warm, high 51, winds ESE 4-9 MPH.

Friday night, mainly cloudy skies, a couple of showers early during high school football cannot be ruled out, low 32, winds ESE 7-14 MPH.

Saturday, a couple of peeks of sun, but mainly cloudy skies, a couple of showers possible, high 57.

Sunday, cloudy skies but mild, a 50/50 chance of scattered showers and perhaps a deeply buried storm, high 69.

Monday, skies slowly clearing as the day progresses, not as warm, an outside chance of a lone shower, high 59.

Tuesday, partly sunny skies, seasonably mild, high 62

Wednesday, starting sunny, but then clouds increase with a chance of a few widely scattered showers later in the day, high 61.

There's your forecast for the next six days, I do hope that you have a great Thursday!  Blessings.