Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Muskegon Heights, MI

DISCUSSION
Issued at 329 AM EDT Wed May 21 2025

- Rainy Today into Tomorrow, then mostly dry this weekend

Latest radar shows heaviest bands or rain are moving through southeast lower MI with slightly more intense bands moving northward through central lower MI early this morning. This trend will continue as the upper level low tracks to the east across the southern Great Lakes this morning. Models are in good agreement on the pattern as a large low will continue to move across Lower Michigan today and tonight.
It will then trek through the Mid Atlantic and into the New England states by this weekend. That upper level system will dominate the pattern over the rest of the week.
Copious amounts of moisture cycling around the low will keep the region cloudy, cool and wet today into tomorrow. While heavy rain isn't expected, the rain/drizzle will continue with periods of slight heavier amounts possible this afternoon. The pressure gradient has weakened so while there will be gusts possible into the 20 to 25 mph range, it will be less windy than yesterday.

Cooler, more stable air will remain over the region as the low moves through so while there will be showers, not expecting storms. Once the low moves to the east a drier gradient will set up over the region.
Michigan will be still dominated by that air mass with northwesterly flow on the back side of the exiting upper level low. The upper level low will finally move into far northeastern Canada the end of the weekend. Once that low finally exits, there will be a pattern change.
There remains some uncertainty and a lack of confidence for that change as there won't be a dominate pattern in place. As far as precipitation goes, some models do bring some light rain into the region late this holiday weekend, though there is a signal that the best moisture will remain to the south.

- Cold the rest of the week with warming this weekend

As stated above the upper level low will dominate the pattern through this weekend. That will mean cooler temperatures will continue with Temps 15 to 20 degrees below normal through Friday.
Highs should remain in the 50s through this timeframe especially since, as the low exits, the winds will shift to the north, northeast bringing cold air advection across lower Michigan. Lows into Friday morning should be in the mid to upper 30s.
While, that might signal the potential for frost, right now there should be strong enough winds and cloud cover that will preclude it for now, though that will need watching.
Temps will warm into and through the weekend though the highs should remain in the 60s heading into Memorial Day.
For those who appreciate warmer weather, the trend into next week will be a good one as temperatures will trend into the upper 60s by early next week and into the upper 70s by late next week.



AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/
Issued at 105 AM EDT Wed May 21 2025

TAF period begins with widespread IFR at GRR, BTL and AZO. MVFR cigs are entrenched at LAN, MKG and JXN. Bands of showers from the transiting low continue to pass over southern Lower Michigan.
Showers could be heavier at times which may drop vsbys down to MVFR. With nothing to scour out the deep moisture, the low clouds will persist today into Thursday so expect MVFR to IFR cigs to persist.

MARINE
Issued at 329 AM EDT Wed May 21 2025

While the winds have slackened the strong persistent easterly flow will keep winds and waves hazardous to small craft through this morning and into the early afternoon. As such have extended the SCY through the morning. Winds will then slacken as the low moves to the east. Winds will shift to the north, northwest as the low moves to the east and winds and waves could potentially become hazardous to small craft Thursday.

GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
MI...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 2 PM EDT this afternoon for LMZ844>849.