National Weather Service - Area Forecast Discussion
982
FXUS63 KAPX 052114
AFDAPX
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Gaylord MI
514 PM EDT Mon Oct 5 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Frost/freeze tonight across the interior.
- On/off light rain showers and breezy conditions much of this
upcoming week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 232 PM EDT Mon Oct 5 2026
Pattern / Forecast Synopsis:
Split flow regime over the CONUS, with deep northern stream trough
and associated mature surface low moving east of James Bay continues
its eastward trek into Atlantic Canada, while strong Canadian
surface high centered over the upper Midwest will move into the
region with time. Still a pinched pressure gradient overhead leading
to some breezy NW winds, particularly over NE lower and eastern
upper where the pressure gradient remains strongest. Surface high to
move overhead by evening in conjunction with subtle 500mb ridging,
but will be a quick passage. Zonal flow in the wake of the deeper
trough will lead to quick system passages through the remainder of
the week. As such, a weak, moisture starved shortwave barges through
the region later tonight into tomorrow, delivering the next chance
of light rain showers. Anticipation is for this to continue through
the week`s end, but with increasingly more northerly system passages
as broader 500mb ridging builds into the region by the weekend.
Details:
Sure feels like autumn out there as a seasonable Canadian airmass
passes through the region. As such, with just a touch of synoptic
moisture, seeing some lake aided shallow convection in the NNW flow
areas... too warm for snow, but still potential for a quick hitting
light shower in the aforementioned NNW flow belts. As much drier air
builds and flow tapers, anticipating this activity to trend
downward, and associated clouds confine to the Charlevoix / Antrim
county shores this evening amid a land / lake breeze interaction.
Tricky temperature setup tonight as the surface high holds directly
overhead to start the evening and early overnight. Excellent
radiational cooling response anticipated to start, with temperatures
dropping like a rock. Considering that we are to top out in the 50s
to perhaps low 60s (and current surface dewpoints mixing down into
the low-to-mid 30s in places), anticipation is that several places
will quickly drop into the 30s by 6z.
Caveat to all of this is the next approaching shortwave and
associated return flow building. Increase in clouds and SW flow will
be most prominent toward the Lake Michigan shores, which may
experience a wild ride with temps... plummeting early and then
rising well into the 40s by sunrise. Elsewhere things remain tricky.
Pending on how long winds can remain decoupled and skies cloud-free,
certainly possible for some interior low spots across NE lower and
north central lower to make a run at 30 degrees (locally colder)
tonight. With us clinging on for dear life to the growing season,
this will force my hand into issuing a Frost Advisory for all
counties EAST of US 131 (including Kalkaska, though the western half
of the county may not exactly meet criteria). Could get cute with a
Freeze Warning embedded in the Au Sable Valley and into Rosco and
Ogemaw, but with uncertainty around how low things will drop and
generally low confidence in prolonged temperatures below 28 degrees,
will hold off on this idea. These areas will likely not see temps
jump until around or after 12z.
So after all of that, next item of business will be rain shower
potential with this next wave later tonight into Tuesday. Moisture
leaves a bit to be desires, but sufficient forcing may be just
enough to drum a few showers up through the morning hours from NW to
SE across the region. The day won`t be a washout and any given
shower probably lasts maybe 5-10 minutes at most. Deepest moisture
and best forcing holds over Ontario, but will leak into eastern
upper and far northern lower. Bigger story from this system will be
the winds, which look to pick up considerably out of the SW amid
warm advection. Gusty winds pushing 35mph seem a fair bet along the
Lake Michigan shores and the highest terrain across interior
northern lower through the later afternoon hours into the evening.
The system quickly clears by evening with winds tapering overnight.
Still not much change in thought from the previous forecaster`s
thoughts regarding the rest of the week. Zonal flow to deliver quick
hitting systems with breezy conditions throughout the remainder of
the week. Temperatures will trend a touch milder Wednesday, cooling
some thereafter as lows dip into the 30s and 40s. Warmer air builds
into the weekend, with respectably high potential for daytime highs
to reach back into the 70s Sunday.
&&
.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 509 PM EDT Mon Oct 5 2026
VFR conditions expected through this taf period. Any lingering
cu will dissipate early this evening, with just some slowly
increasing high clouds to follow through the early overnight.
Band of deeper mid level moisture looks to spread east into the
area early Tuesday morning. May see a few what should be non-
impactful light showers fall out of this cloud deck Tuesday
morning, although most of the time and area should remain dry.
Winds become light tonight, with south to southeast winds
becoming a bit gusty on Tuesday.
&&
.APX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MI...Frost Advisory from 11 PM this evening to 8 AM EDT Tuesday for
MIZ017-018-022>024-027>030-033>036-041-042.
MARINE...Gale Warning from 2 PM to 11 PM EDT Tuesday for LMZ323-341-342-
344>346.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...HAD
AVIATION...MSB
NWS APX Office Area Forecast Discussion
Lake Huron Weather
