Mild & Damp On The Way

Good Afternoon!

Sun is in the skies, some mid to high level cloudiness in the area as well.  Some showers out over Lake Michigan that will track east-northeast and miss us - at least for now.  Let's take a deeper dive and see what's under the hood...

WARMING UP SLOWLY:  Temperatures right now are in the 40's with SSE winds.  We'll see those readings climb as the day progresses when the winds finish spinning around to the SW.  Readings well into the 50's and pushing 60 in some cases are back in Illinois, Chicago, Kankakee and Moline, among other places.  A dry slot in front of an upper wave ahead of the main surface low is keeping things clear and rain-free here, it's also holding down the temperatures.  Have a look at this composite map:

Visible Satellite Image with NEXRAD Composite and Surface Observation  overlays

NOT RAIN FREE TONIGHT:  Some scattered shower activity is out over the lake and moving northeast. Right now the air is pretty dry, so I think that we miss out on this for the most part, some stray showers could develop later this afternoon, but we really don't get into the higher rain probabilities until later this evening as southwest flow establishes and the warmer, moister air filters in.  Some scattered showers this evening, becoming more a touch more numerous with time.  Along with that, an embedded thunderstorm can't be ruled out.

WARMER, NOT SUMMER-LIKE THOUGH:  We'll see temperatures trending up as we go into next week, but not the 70 that was advertised yesterday.  Daytime highs will top out around 64 by next Wednesday.  After that, sharply cooler for the rest of the week.  I told you I wasn't buying that 70!

RAIN TONIGHT AND MONDAY:  The two chances at rain are tonight and Monday night.  A surface low passes northwest of us tonight, bringing snow to the Upper Peninsula.  Fortunately we stay on the warm side of this.  Dry tomorrow, then some rain again to start the new week.  Here's a look at the WPC Precipitation Forecast:

WPC 7 Day Precipitation Forecast

This has gotten a bit wetter, with a three inch rain bullseye in the area.

Here's a look at the radar, showing those showers off to the northwest.

Grand Rapids NEXRAD Composite Radar

Here's the forecast for Jackson and surrounding areas:


This afternoon, mostly cloudy by afternoon.  A stray afternoon shower in some spots is possible, high 56.  Winds turn SW increasing to 10-20 MPH.

Tonight, cloudy, a few scattered showers, even a roaming thunderstorm cannot be ruled out, milder, lows only roll back to 45. Wind SW 10-20 MPH.

Sunday, clearing by lunchtime leaves fair skies, mixed sunshine, seasonably warm, high 55, wind becoming ESE 5-10 MPH.

Sunday night, a mix of clouds and stars, colder than Saturday night, lows down to 35.  Wind NW 5-10 MPH turn ESE toward daybreak.

Monday, partly sunny skies, a pop-up rain shower is possible, high 60.

Tuesday, cloudy skies, scattered showers and a couple of  thunderstorms likely, mild, high 60.

Wednesday, continued mainly cloudy, some lingering showers and perhaps a buried storm are possible, warmer still, high 62.

Thursday, a mix of clouds and sunshine, still the chance of some scattered showers, cooler, high 50.

Friday, mainly cloudy, a few peeks of sunshine, some hit or miss showers are possible, high 56.

Saturday, some clouds and sunshine mix, high 55.

There's your forecast for the next seven days, have a great weekend!