141 FXUS63 KGRR 300656 AFDGRR Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI 256 AM EDT Thu Apr 30 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Cool with chances of rain and likely frost/freeze through Saturday - Warming up with chances of rain early next week - Stronger system mid next week with better chances of rain && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 256 AM EDT Thu Apr 30 2026 - Cool with chances of rain and likely frost/freeze through Saturday We are seeing the last vestiges of the system exiting the eastern portion of the area that moved in yesterday and overperformed for most of the area. We will see a bit more dry weather for today along with some sunshine as we will be under the influence of some short wave ridging following the short wave trough exiting. The next wave embedded in the flow around the upper low centered over the Lake Superior/Ontario area is poised to move toward the area this evening. The difference with this one is that it is taking aim at far Southern Lower and Northern Indiana. This is where the majority of shower activity will take place this evening and early overnight tonight. For the rest of the area, we really expect little to no rain for tonight. There is a thought that we may need some frost/freeze headlines if skies clear out enough with light winds. The issue is that we are likely to see a good deal of mid cloud cover which will prevent temps from really tanking enough. We will hold off on any headline decisions given the current headlines out, and the uncertainty for the affects of the clouds. Friday should be mainly dry also, with just a small chance once again for southern and eastern areas with the wave moving out early, then better instability to the east. Friday night looks to be the best chance of a frost/freeze with highs on Friday only in the 40s, and then dropping quickly at night with dew points in the 20s and lighter winds holding on. No real strong short wave is expected on Saturday either, so mostly dry conditions expected. - Warming up with chances of rain early next week Sunday is now looking mainly dry also in this unsettled weather pattern. We will start the day out with short wave ridging building over the area. A short wave and associated cold front will approach likely toward or after dark. We will see a flow from the SW, helping to bring warmer air over the area after a couple of colder days. This will help with instability some, but will wane as the front and short wave arrives after peak heating. Monday will start out milder and dry, but the potential for rain is increasing through the day. There is a fairly strong jet streak and short wave digging SE toward the area at that time. Model solutions are now showing a trend toward more moisture from the south being absorbed into the stronger northern stream wave to bring more widespread rain than previously expected. The increase in moisture and warmer air, combined with cooler air with the wave looks to produce some potential instability for thunder. This moves out by Tuesday. - Stronger system mid next week with better chances of rain Yet another stronger northern stream wave dives SE and digs a stronger long wave trough over the Northern Plains late Tuesday and early Wednesday. That will induce a stronger low out ahead of it. That in turn will assist Gulf moisture making it further north all along the front. The track and strength of this system is a bit more uncertain as one would expect 7-8 days out. It is definitely something to watch as it could produce some good convection, or bring down some colder air. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 149 AM EDT Thu Apr 30 2026 We continue to see lower conditions varying from MVFR to IFR over the east where the rain remains early this morning. Areas to the west have seen improvement to VFR where the rain has stopped. Areas that have partially cleared out are likely to see stratus redevelop. Areas to the east may see a brief break in the stratus, and have handled this with a tempo group due to the short duration of any clearing. Not expecting much fog to develop due to enough of a wind to keep things mixed up a bit. We will see the stratus mix out by mid morning, with only some clouds lingering around 6k ft or so. Winds will pick up a bit for the afternoon as some better winds aloft will mix down. Clouds at 6k ft will thicken up as a wave rides by just to our south. This could bring some light rain to the I-94 terminals after 00z Fri. && .MARINE... Issued at 256 AM EDT Thu Apr 30 2026 No headlines expected at least through Thursday night expected at this time. There have been a couple of isolated gusts to SCA criteria, and some waves of 3+ ft, just a little under criteria. We expect that today better winds aloft will not mix down over the colder Lakes, and should stay below 15 knots. Our next headline event could be on Friday. This is one of the more subtle scenarios where high pressure building in can squeeze the gradient a bit with the land mass warming. There is decent potential that we see 20+ knots Friday afternoon and evening. && .GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MI...Freeze Warning until 9 AM EDT this morning for MIZ038>040-045. Frost Advisory until 9 AM EDT this morning for MIZ044-046-051- 052-057>059-065-066. MARINE...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...NJJ AVIATION...NJJ MARINE...NJJ

NWS GRR Office Area Forecast Discussion