WEST MICHIGAN — Sunshine is back with us today and we are all happy about that! Temperatures return to the low to mid 50s for many of us. The immediate lakeshore from Holland on northward, however, will experience temperatures in the upper 40s to near 50 degrees due to a cooling effect off of Lake Michigan.
The windy stretch we have had around recently returns this afternoon as southwest winds pick up and go between 15-25 mph gusting to 35-40 mph at times. This increased wind pattern is in response to the tight pressure gradient between high pressure situated over the region of Kentucky and Tennessee and an approaching cold front slowly approaching from Minnesota.
Expect mostly clear skies this evening to give way to increased clouds overnight into early Sunday morning as this aforementioned cold front works its way into West Michigan. Showers will be with us Sunday morning but will be exiting during the early afternoon period. Some sunshine will return during the afternoon but with breezy northwest winds and temperatures around 50 to the lower 50s we will feel a bit of a chill around the region. Again, Lake Michigan shoreline communities will be several degrees cooler.
As we get into the coming workweek we will be looking to see when some warmer air can make its way into our region. As it stands right now, below normal temperatures ( averages are near 60 degrees now ) will be felt for Monday and Tuesday with Tuesday shaking out quite chilly in the middle 40s behind an early morning cold front. This front will offer up a new chance for showers from Monday evening through the early morning hours of Tuesday but nothing too terribly heavy is anticipated.
Indications are that a shift to somewhat warmer air may occur Wednesday into Thursday and Friday as numbers have a chance to hit 60 degrees and even go above particularly on Thursday and Friday. Models have been waffling recently on just how much warm air will work its way into West Michigan, but the overall trend certainly seems to be for a better chance for warmer times later this coming week as opposed to what we will see at the start of the week. No big storms are expected anytime soon but a few more showers ( and possibly a thunderstorm ) may show up overnight Wednesday into Thursday. Stay tuned!
