Sunrise 6:24 AM   Sunset 8:19 PM Moonrise 8:30 PM   Moonset 5:34 AM

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LHZ463 Expires:202404241600;;280533 Fzus63 Kdtx 240751 Glflh
open lake forecast for lake huron national weather service detroit/pontiac mi 351 am edt Wed apr 24 2024
for waters beyond five nautical miles off shore on lake huron
waves are the significant wave height - the average of the highest 1/3 of the wave spectrum. Occasional wave height is the average of the highest 1/10 of the wave spectrum.
Synopsis - Gusty north-northeast winds will occur today due to a strong gradient and influx of cold air between a departing cold front and high pressure, 30.40 inches. Benign conditions expected Thursday with high pressure returning through Friday morning. A steady warming trend gets underway Thursday and continues into the weekend. Unsettled weather returns Saturday due to a large low pressure system, 29.30 inches, from the plains.
lhz363-462>464-241600- lake huron from sturgeon point to alabaster mi beyond 5nm off shore- lake huron from port austin to harbor beach beyond 5nm off shore- lake huron from harbor beach to port sanilac beyond 5nm off shore- lake huron from port sanilac to port huron beyond 5nm off shore- 351 am edt Wed apr 24 2024
Today - North winds 20 to 25 knots with gusts to around 30 knots decreasing to 15 to 20 knots in the afternoon. Waves 8 to 12 feet. Waves occasionally around 15 feet. Tonight - North winds 10 to 15 knots becoming northeast 5 to 10 knots in the late evening and early morning - .then veering to the east early in the morning. Waves 4 to 6 feet subsiding to 1 to 3 feet early in the morning. Waves occasionally around 8 feet. Thursday - Light and variable winds becoming northeast 5 to 10 knots early in the afternoon. Waves 2 feet or less. Thursday night - Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots veering to the southeast after midnight. Waves 2 feet or less. Friday - Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots increasing to 20 to 25 knots with gusts to 40 knot gales. A chance of showers late in the afternoon. Showers late in the evening. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 5 to 7 feet. Waves occasionally around 10 feet. Saturday - Southeast winds to 30 knots with gusts to 40 knot gales becoming south 15 to 20 knots with gusts to 35 knot gales. Showers early in the morning. Rain showers likely in the late morning and early afternoon - .then a chance of showers until early morning. Waves 6 to 9 feet. Waves occasionally around 12 feet. Sunday - Southwest winds 10 to 15 knots backing to the east until early morning. A chance of showers. Waves 4 to 6 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet until early morning. Waves occasionally around 8 feet.

LHZ400
No data

FXUS63 KDTX 240825 AFDDTX

Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac MI 425 AM EDT Wed Apr 24 2024

KEY MESSAGES

- A Freeze Warning is in effect for all of southeast MI tonight through early Thursday morning as temperatures dip into the mid to upper 20s.

- Dry conditions with a warming trend bring high temperatures to the 50s on Thursday and 60s on Friday.

- Showers are likely Friday night with windy and warm conditions this weekend. There is low confidence in shower and thunderstorm potential Saturday and Sunday.

DISCUSSION

A strong southward advancing cold front marked by a sharp northerly wind shift is approaching the Thumb and Tri-Cities this morning, driven by the departure of a mid-level trough axis. Temps will settle into the lower 30s (north) to lower 40s (south), setting the stage for a chilly late April day. Stratus will canopy the area within the active cold advection this morning and stifle early day warming, limiting high temp prospects to the 40s (north) and lower 50s (south). Some areas along the Lake Huron shoreline will likely top out in the upper 30s. Meanwhile, winds will remain brisk out of the north at around 15 to 25 mph this morning before gradually tapering off this afternoon. This keeps a wintry bite around with apparent temps holding in the 30s for much of the day. Dry air will eventually erode the stratus deck north to south midday, with sunshine and weaker winds then offering some relief.

Slow but steady mid-level height rebounds complement the dry advection through this evening with a ridge of sfc high pressure building in from the west. High confidence in sub freezing temps overnight into Wednesday morning given clear skies indicated by PWATs near the 1st percentile in NAEFS climo, very light winds, thermal trough overhead, and sfc dew points dropping into the teens/20s to create a very favorable radiational cooling environment. A significant portion of HRRR members bring a hard sub 28 degree freeze to most of the area north of the glacial ridge.
While a freeze like this is not uncommon for late April, the mild winter and spring brought an early start to the growing season which means impacts may be more pronounced and any sensitive vegetation will be at risk. A Freeze Warning is in effect from midnight through 8 AM.

The 850mb thermal trough remains overhead on Thursday, but ridging maintains sunny skies that help boost temps to the mid 50s for a high. The dry environment means another cool night Thursday night and interior areas may see lows near the freezing mark, but a widespread hard freeze does not look likely. Benign weather carries through much of Friday as the upper ridge axis passes over the Great Lakes. During this time a low will be deepening over the central Plains with its warm conveyor directed from the western Gulf up the Mississippi Valley. As the low reaches eastern NE late Friday and the ridge axis passes to our east, the warm advective wing will spread overhead and bring a round of showers Friday evening/night.
The LLJ veers through overnight, peaking near 50 kt with strong moisture transport bringing relatively high confidence in the showers. Lapse rates look poor in available guidance, but some embedded thunderstorms may be possible given relatively strong lift spreading in.

Saturday will see the warm sector take residence over the area with relatively low confidence on convective trends during this period.
Overall setup seems to favor drier conditions as mid-level ridging builds into the area which keeps the profile capped. The LLJ will remain positioned overhead which brings a strong southwest wind on Saturday, likely gusting in excess of 30 mph. 850mb temps rising to the lower teens C make high temps in the 70s likely. As the first low tracks across Lake Superior on Saturday night, a second low develops along the frontal zone draped across the central Plains.
This low takes a similar track to our west, ensuring we stay within the warm sector through the weekend. Convective trends carry relatively low predictability into Sunday with capping concerns, but higher confidence in showers/storms arises on Monday as the cold front moves through.

MARINE

Brisk northerly flow in the wake of the earlier cold front will commence this morning. There also remains a low-end potential for gusts to gales while lapse rates steepen and forecast soundings are well-mixed once stronger LLJ winds clip central Lake Huron.
Hazardous conditions for small craft can be expected on Lake Huron today. Gradient winds trend lower midday Wednesday before high pressure starts building into the Great Lakes. More favorable marine conditions are expected Thursday with sustained ridging until Friday. Unsettled weather returns Saturday, dependent on trajectory of a large low pressure system ejecting from The Plains.

PREV DISCUSSION
Issued at 1147 PM EDT Tue Apr 23 2024

AVIATION...

The region of rain showers with a few lingering thunderstorms will exit to the east of the terminals by 06Z. Low level moisture advection in the wake of this area of rain will increase the probabilities for MVFR based cloud development. An upper wave will drive a cold front across the area overnight. There will be a veering of the winds to the north-northeast with the passage of this front. Post frontal cold air advection and ample low level moisture will sustain widespread MVFR based stratus well into Wed morning. A little bit of post frontal moisture and flux off Lake Huron will contribute to some light rain/snow showers or drizzle from PTK northward Wed morning.

For DTW/D21 Convection...The showers and isolated thunderstorms will be be exiting the airspace between 04Z and 06Z per recent observational trends. A push of colder air will arrive within strengthening north winds after 12Z Wed morning. Wind gusts will top 20 knots.

DTW THRESHOLD PROBABILITIES...

* High in ceilings aob 5000 overnight into early Wed afternoon.



DTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
MI...Freeze Warning from midnight tonight to 8 AM EDT Thursday for MIZ047>049-053>055-060>063-068>070-075-076-082-083.

Lake Huron...Small Craft Advisory until 10 PM EDT this evening for LHZ421-422- 441>443.

Lake St Clair...Small Craft Advisory until 10 PM EDT this evening for LCZ460.

Michigan waters of Lake Erie...None.

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