810
FXUS63 KGRR 021814
AFDGRR
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
214 PM EDT Sun Aug 2 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Isolated showers this afternoon, then dry through late Tuesday
- Showers and storms possible from Wednesday through the weekend
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 214 PM EDT Sun Aug 2 2026
- Isolated showers this afternoon, then dry through late Tuesday
The larger area of deformation zone precipitation has exited the
forecast area. Radar shows isolated showers across the eastern CWA
moving southwest, mainly around US-127. Some model guidance,
particularly the NBM, favors thunder this afternoon with this
activity in the Lansing area. Given limited conditional instability
that is mostly below the ice production layer, we feel that
thunder is quite unlikely, but admittedly non-zero, with this
activity.
After this, forecast expectations have really not changed for the
week ahead. There is a signal for some Monday morning shallow ground
fog, particularly towards I-94. Otherwise, Monday through Tuesday
afternoon feature a high certainty (greater than 90 percent) of dry
conditions across southwest Lower MI with seasonal temperatures and
humidities. Model guidance run to run consistency has been decent
with respect to bringing precipitation chances to at least the
northwest forecast area (including Ludington) Tuesday night.
Accordingly, the latest available SPC SWODY3 brings a general
thunder threat to the extreme northwest CWA during this timeframe.
- Showers and storms possible from Wednesday through the weekend
As previously noted, we will remain in a persistent broad upper
trough pattern starting the middle of the coming week and lasting
through the weekend. Guidance is locking into a slow cold frontal
passage Wednesday into Thursday with attendant showers and
thunderstorms. Neither SPC nor Machine Learning (ML) guidance
indicate much of a severe threat with this activity. We are going
with a possible dry period Friday in the deterministic forecast, but
this may be a bit misleading given that numerous members from the
ECMWF/GEFS/GEPS model suites give at least a smattering of
precipitation every day into early next week. The ensemble guidance
output really speaks to the poor timing and magnitude predictability
of this pattern given that episodic rainfall will depend greatly
on the evolution of meso-alpha scale upper PV maxima moving through
the broader cyclonic flow.
In terms of severe convective threats after Thursday, the ML guidance
is not as bullish as before. This makes sense given that we are looking
at an unsettled pattern that will probably be unable to develop significant
conditional instability.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 145 PM EDT Sun Aug 2 2026
Ceilings are trending VFR around 4,000 feet this afternoon.
Scattered rain showers will affect mainly Mid Lower Michigan
including LAN over the next several hours. The probability of a
thunderstorm is quite low as these convective cells are low-
topped at about 10,000 feet according to radar. Patchy/shallow
fog before sunrise Monday may be present in portions of southern
Lower Michigan.
&&
.MARINE...
Issued at 214 PM EDT Sun Aug 2 2026
No changes to the marine headlines or to expectations in general. We
expect an increase in winds and waves this afternoon with dangerous
longshore currents that will be especially hazardous on the north
sides of structures such as piers. Conditions should improve overnight.
The next chance for hazardous winds and waves appears to be Tuesday
afternoon farther north around the Sable Points.
&&
.GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MI...Beach Hazards Statement until 2 AM EDT Monday for MIZ037-043-050-
056-064-071.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 2 AM EDT Monday for LMZ844>849.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...TJT
AVIATION...CAS
MARINE...TJT
NWS GRR Office Area Forecast Discussion