472 FXUS63 KAPX 270637 AFDAPXArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Gaylord MI 237 AM EDT Sat Sep 27 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Patchy fog again tonight...
- Mild and drier weather possible next week...
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.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Issued at 237 AM EDT Sat Sep 27 2025
Ridging once again surging into the Great Lakes region into the weekend, as the pesky cutoff low finally makes its departure following a cold frontal passage Friday afternoon. In the wake of this boundary, we are contending with a stubborn plume of low level moisture which has been producing some low stratus and fog, primarily across northern lower Michigan, with most of eastern upper being spared for the time being. A sharp shortwave over central Canada will crest the ridge axis building into the region, which will draw in a warm front to the region through the morning, effectively scouring out fog and low cloud across northern lower, but with prevailing SW flow, this plume will be sent across eastern upper... so through the day today, anticipating sunshine to really make its mark on northern lower as highs balloon into the 70s, perhaps lower 80s in places. Those stubborn clouds in eastern upper should stunt highs anywhere from 66 to 72.
Guidance is pessimistic on shower development across the northern reaches of eastern upper in the afternoon considering a largely stable boundary layer beneath a stout warm nose between 850mb and 700mb... thus preventing instability to materialize in the afternoon, so will trend the forecast dry across the board. Associated cold frontal boundary with the aforementioned shortwave will make a passage late Saturday into Saturday night... and with minimal moisture to play with, along with a lack of instability, this front will basically be nothing more than a moisture-scouring agent... knocking dewpoints down quite a bit to close out the weekend, and setting the stage for potential fire weather concerns as cooler air really fails to intrude in the wake of the front. Lows tonight generally 40-45 in the interiors... 45 to 55 along the coasts. Frost concerns seem minimal considering a lack of decoupling amid a tightened pressure gradient.
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.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... Issued at 237 AM EDT Sat Sep 27 2025
Short Version: prolonged dry spell is in the cards for the Northwoods for the long term period, with increasing concerns for fire weather conditions and frost.
Details: Ridge axis will generally settle right overhead as a stout Rex Blocking regime materializes... leaving northern Michigan under strong influences of surface high pressure and very dry air. Initial start to the period showcases anomalous warmth to conclude the weekend and into next week... with highs spiking well into the 70s and perhaps even the 80s Monday. As the surface high over northern Ontario asserts itself, flow will then trend more easterly... and very dry. While this will send temperatures to somewhat more seasonable levels... highs in the lower 60s to lower 70s (still above normal), we will have to see how strong surface flow is, because in these setups, fire weather parameters can easily spike. Considering the ample timber lying on forest floors from the devastating March ice storm earlier this year, along with the decaying of vegetation amid a drier period, fall fire weather concerns could certainly spike in a pattern like this, constituted by low RHs. In addition, this dry of an atmospheric profile may permit seasonably chilly overnight lows in the 30s (frost potential) across the interior, which could lead to additional vegetation decay. So... while the weather will likely be nice, there may be other factors to consider for those that have late-season camping plans in the Northwoods.
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.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 121 AM EDT Sat Sep 27 2025
Areas of FG/BR are leading to IFR/LIFR conditions at multiple terminals this morning. BKN-OVC skies of ~4 to 5 kft will cause the FG/BR to be intermittent at some NE lower terminals (KAPN). FG/BR should lift and scatter after 15Z for most terminals. Winds will become SW/W after 10Z with occasional gusts up to 15kts. A weak and dry FROPA will move through around 00Z, turning winds N/NE for the remainder of the period.
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.APX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MI...None. MARINE...None.
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SHORT TERM...HAD LONG TERM...HAD AVIATION...ELD
NWS APX Office Area Forecast Discussion