Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Benton Heights, MI

DISCUSSION
Issued at 331 AM EDT Thu May 22 2025

Broad cyclonic flow remains in place over the Great Lakes. Numerous showers are ongoing early this morning as excellent Pacific moisture advection is noted on water vapor. This moisture stream contracts later today, undercut by incoming high pressure currently digging in over the Upper Peninsula. Time height cross sections show a strong push of subsidence arriving this afternoon which will allow showers to cease from northwest to southeast. A few peeks of sun are possible late, but not guaranteed in this stagnant pattern. Across southern Michigan tonight, very cold for late-May especially if clouds clear. The inherited forecast lows were a touch warm area- wide, so I did nudge lows down resulting in a low of 39 near Hillsdale. Northwest wind near 10 mph should minimize any frost concerns.

While drying out Friday and into the first part of the weekend, cool northwest flow prevails resulting in continued below-normal temperatures. Discrepancies remain beyond Sunday night with respect to an incoming Colorado low. Strong high pressure centered over the Great Lakes ought to suppress this low to our south, especially amid a rather zonal 500-mb pattern across the southern US. In the meantime, I've retained some 20-30% POPs for Memorial Day through Tuesday. It is by Tuesday through late week that an upper-level low could take shape over the eastern Great Lakes bringing more showers.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/
Issued at 628 AM EDT Thu May 22 2025

A dance of the upper low pressure systems occurs as one stalls over Detroit while another circles around it southwestward from Canada towards the Northern Great Lakes. This southward push allows drier air to push into the area during the morning. As such, expect a moderation into MVFR this morning and probably a quick return to VFR not too long afterwards. Widespread rain slides southward and out of the area between midmorning and midday between the taf sites. Breezy northwest winds continue today with sustained wind remaining either side of 10 kts and times of gusty winds can be expected to range between 25 and 30 kts midday into this afternoon.

IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
IN...Beach Hazards Statement through late tonight for INZ103.
OH...None.
MI...Beach Hazards Statement through late tonight for MIZ177-277.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 2 AM EDT Friday for LMZ043-046.