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Gloomy, cool and wet weekend ahead for West Michigan

Posted at 1:41 PM, Aug 19, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-19 13:59:35-04

WEST MICHIGAN — We’ve had plenty of great summer weekends for the beach and boat, but this weekend will likely not be one of them.

A moisture-laden system with a cold front and low pressure area riding along the front will likely generate more rain by Saturday afternoon/evening. In fact, the Storm Prediction Center has West Michigan in a “marginal risk” for severe weather development on Saturday. The primary threat would be the possibility of some 50 – 60 mph winds and perhaps some one inch size hail.

Our forecast models are indicating this should be a fairly good soaking of rain (again) with anywhere from a half-inch to one inch possible. Once the system slides through the state, winds will increase and cooler air from the northwest will move in Sunday. Sunday looks to be mainly cloudy with a few showers still possible. I would also expect Lake Michigan waves to be running high as we mix down the cooler air aloft. Small Craft Advisories with waves at least three to six feet or higher are likely Sunday.

The image below is radar estimated rainfall over just the last seven days. Clearly, the entire Mississippi River Valley and Great Lakes has the highest bulls-eye between eight and 15 inches of rain…so we don’t need more. Note the real historical/record rainfall has been in the Lower Mississippi River Valley and Louisiana Delta with rain being reported in feet!

Capture

Get the complete forecast at www.fox17online.com/weather.