576 FXUS63 KGRB 020802 AFDGRBArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Green Bay WI 209 AM CDT Thu Oct 2 2025
Forecast discussion for routine morning forecast issuance
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Temperatures warm through the weekend, peaking in the mid to upper 80s Friday and Saturday afternoons. Several record highs will be in jeopardy both days.
- Conditions hazardous to small craft are expected on Lake Michigan through this morning, followed by another round of strong winds and higher waves this weekend.
- Gusty winds paired with near record temperatures may result in increased fire weather potential Saturday and Sunday.
- Most locations stay dry until Sunday night with the arrival of a stronger cold front. Chances for isolated to scattered showers then last through Monday night.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 207 AM CDT Thu Oct 2 2025
Temperatures... Trends solidly holding for record warmth Friday and Saturday as southerly flow regime reigns. Afternoon highs are likely to make it up into the mid to upper 80s for most, with NBM interquartile range only showing a few degree spread. Additionally, ECMWF Extreme Forecast Index (EFI) shows 90 to 95% of ensemble members forecasting a record breaking event. All of the above would lend to a high confidence forecast of record high temperatures across northeast Wisconsin, especially if 18C 850 mb temps are realized. Little recovery is expected Saturday night, with lows only getting into the low to mid 60s (record high min?). More seasonable temperatures are then on deck to start the work week, with post-FROPA highs falling back into the 50s and 60s.
Winds/fire weather... Southerly winds begin to ramp up Saturday and Sunday as the pressure gradient tightens up over northwest Wisconsin. Coincident 50 knot LLJ will likewise open the tap for deep mixing during this time, with the result being potential for 30 to 35 knot gusts at the surface. When paired with record setting temperatures and little to no precip in the forecast, fire weather concerns begin to enter the chat. RHs bottom out in the low 30s Saturday afternoon, though fuel moisture remains a question. However, with leaf debris beginning to come into play, will definitely warrant monitoring in the coming days. Would not be surprised to see the Fire Danger Rating come up heading into the weekend.
Marine... Brief period of small craft conditions expected south of Sturgeon Bay through this morning. Have backed off the current headline to end at noon today instead of the original 4 PM due to waves coming down sooner. Hazardous marine conditions then return this weekend as southerly winds ramp up ahead of an approaching cold front. Waves are progged to build to 2 to 4 ft on the Bay, and 5 to 8 ft on Lake Michigan, with a consistent signal leading to higher confidence in additional small craft headlines.
Rain/storm chances... Have maintained a mostly dry forecast for today and Friday even as a weak cold front skirts northern Wisconsin. Main hindrance will be the lingering influence of dry air from dominant high pressure situated over the eastern CONUS. Thermal ridge then looks to break down late this weekend, bringing about our next noteworthy rain chances late Sunday through Monday. Robust trough over the Intermountain West will eject a shortwave into the upper Mississippi Valley Sunday afternoon as a cold front sweeps east over Wisconsin. However, long-range guidance continues to be unimpressed with precip amounts during this time, as deeper moisture looks to be confined to a narrow corridor behind the front. As such, probabilistic guidance only shows a meager 10% chance of receiving 0.25" of rain Sunday into Monday.
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.AVIATION...for 06Z TAF Issuance Issued at 1032 PM CDT Wed Oct 1 2025
Have increased the potential for fog/low stratus in the forecast overnight into early Thursday, especially in the SE wind upslope region of far NE WI and near Lake Michigan. Patchy fog has already been observed near the lake, and dew point depressions were getting low in parts of NE WI. For now, plan to only include fog and low stratus in the MTW and GRB TAFs, but there is small chance that RHI could see some too.
Otherwise, looking at BKN high clouds overnight into early Thursday, then FEW-SCT cumulus clouds developing in the late morning and afternoon. Winds will be light from the southeast tonight, then pick up a bit from the SE-S by Thursday afternoon. Guidance is suggesting potential for some low stratus over parts of northern WI late tomorrow night, though that is beyond this TAF period.
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.GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None.
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DISCUSSION.....Goodin AVIATION.......Kieckbusch
NWS GRB Office Area Forecast Discussion