181 FXUS63 KGRR 162323 AFDGRRArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI 723 PM EDT Tue Sep 16 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Patchy Dense Fog Again Tonight
- Next Chance of Rain this Weekend
&&
.DISCUSSION... Issued at 256 PM EDT Tue Sep 16 2025
- Patchy Dense Fog Again Tonight
Continued light east flow will allow for another area of fog to form across the eastern zones again late tonight and persisting for an hour or so after sunrise on Wednesday. Current dew point and temperature forecast suggests fog will be as extensive but perhaps not as dense as last night.
- Next Chance of Rain this Weekend
Blocking pattern finally breaks down this weekend with the upper ridge being replaced by shortwave troughing by early next week. Model guidance agrees on the general pattern but shows quite a bit of ensemble spread and run to run instability in the details. Chance POPs look good for now Sunday and Monday as two separate waves move along a slow moving baroclinic zone. Low confidence forecast continues for next week given divergent forecasts of the upper and sfc pattern with the potential for another blocking pattern to become established.
&&
.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 723 PM EDT Tue Sep 16 2025
With clear skies, light winds, and low dew point depressions across the region, light to moderate fog development is possible by 09z or so. Interestingly, the NBM guidance is much more pessimistic with fog development than standalone high res models such as the HRRR and Nam3km, or even coarser models such as the GFS and ECWMF. However, MOS guidance is just about universally in agreement with light fog development. Fog could briefly be dense at LAN and JXN in the 10z-12z time frame, but not confident enough to put 1/4sm visibilities in the TAFs there. Very light and at times variable winds continue into Wednesday outside of a lake breeze pushing through MKG during the afternoon.
&&
.MARINE... Issued at 256 PM EDT Tue Sep 16 2025
Marine weather looks to be benign through the rest of the week. Similar to today, predominantly easterly flow will become westerly in the afternoon Wednesday as the lake breeze develops. Winds increase to 10-15 knots later Thursday but impacts will be low with northeasterly flow being predominantly offshore. An approaching low pressure system increases winds to 15-20 knots Saturday morning, however once again flow looks to be offshore. Waves will be 2 feet or less through this period. Conditions will be quiet through Friday with a 20 to 40 percent chance of showers through the weekend.
&&
.GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MI...None. MARINE...None.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...Ostuno AVIATION...Hoving MARINE...Thomas
NWS GRR Office Area Forecast Discussion