Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Fennville, MI

DISCUSSION
Issued at 313 AM EDT Wed Apr 23 2025

- Several Chances of Showers/Storms Through Friday Night

Several chances for showers and storms exist over the next 72 hours.
The two best chances are later today into Thursday, and Thursday Night into Friday.

Today, a weak frontal boundary is forecast to stall across the upper- midwest. The arrival of a 700mb wave will be sufficient to force thunderstorm development late today/tonight in conjunction with this boundary. The best coverage is expected to be across northwestern portions of our forecast area that are closer to surface convergence and the mid-level wave. Isolated strong to severe storms cannot be ruled out with steep lapse rates and effective shear of 25-30 knots, mainly across our northwestern forecast area. Hail and gusty winds are the concerns if any storms can organize.

Precipitation chances are notably higher, on the order of 70-90 percent, Thursday Night into Friday. Rain chances are due to a pair of mid-level shortwaves driving a surface low through the area. The best chance of thunder with this system comes Friday afternoon as a few hundred joules of MUCAPE build across the southeastern forecast area.

Surface and upper-level ridging then arrives for the weekend. This will keep conditions dry across West Michigan.

- Warming Through Late Week

Above normal temperatures are expected the next several days, with highs into the 70s today and some areas reaching the 80s Thursday.
For reference, normal highs this time of year are in the low sixties in Grand Rapids. Temperatures then cool down Friday into Saturday, albeit with temps still near to above normal, as northerly flow takes hold.

- Warm With Shower/Storm Chances Tuesday

Warm air advection resumes early next week with 850mb temps climbing into the mid teens Tuesday. This will bring plenty of warmth as highs climb back into the upper 70s or 80s.

The overall synoptic pattern shows that a mid-level wave will drive a cold front across the region. LREF members show an expansive warm sector developing across the region, including lower Michigan, with mean dewpoints in the lower 60s. With the ECMWF/GFS showing sufficient deep layer shear, storms could be stronger, though this outcome is uncertain. Cluster analysis shows a split in when the shortwave and surface front arrive, with the timing being key to whether stronger storms can occur. Tuesday could be an active day, with refinement of the forecast expected in the days to come.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY/
Issued at 147 AM EDT Wed Apr 23 2025

Mainly VFR conditions are expected through the forecast period with south to southwest winds. A period of showers and thunderstorms is possible during the afternoon and evening, mainly 18Z to 00Z, with the potential for showers and storms to linger longer toward MKG and northward. Coverage may be isolated to scattered with lower confidence toward JXN. With the hit and miss coverage of showers and storms only included the potential with the Prob30 group. With any shower/storm this afternoon lower ceilings along with MVFR or lower visibilities are possible.

MARINE
Issued at 313 AM EDT Wed Apr 23 2025

No marine concerns over the next few days as weak gradient winds are expected across the area. A stable profile will limit any mixing down of winds aloft as well. Waves should remain two feet or less over the next 48 hours. The next period of increased winds over the lake is later Friday into Saturday as northerly flow increases behind a departing low. Scattered thunderstorms are also possible over the lake this afternoon, particularly north of Muskegon.

GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
MI...None.
MARINE...None.