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KEY MESSAGES

- Windy today

- Otherwise warmer and quiet for several days

DISCUSSION

Issued at 309 AM EDT Sun Oct 18 2026

Upper troffing is progressing from the eastern seaboard states and eastern Canada. The southern stream portion of this will get left behind just off the east coast, remaining just east of NC/VA thru midweek. Also by midweek, another upper low will move southward to just off of CA. These are the anchors to an evolving omega ridge/block over much of the CONUS this week. A storm track remains active over central/southern Canada, but this is a bit too far north to seriously bother northern MI.

The above results in what is generally a pretty quiet forecast, especially for the 2nd half of October. However, in the process of ejecting our colder airmass today, we'll have a breezy to windy day to do it. A handful of Lake MI and Straits area coastal locales are already gusting to around 40mph. The warm advection and associated lowering/sharpening inversion will eventually place a limit on vertical mixing (especially heading into tonight). But diurnal heating/mixing over land increases today. Gusts around 40 mph will be common today in the Straits area and broader Mackinac Co. A few gusts around 45 mph (advisory criteria) are probable, but not quite enough to warrant a headline, for now.

Otherwise, the strong surface low crossing Hudson Bay and contributing to the tight pressure gradient today will quickly exit east. Lots of high pressure surface and aloft after that, at least until a weak and moisture-starved cold front enters the area Wednesday. That's replaced by more high pressure until next weekend, maybe. The forecast will have no pops in it, until Sunday of next weekend, when a slight chance slips into northern Chippewa Co. That's an extraordinarily quiet forecast.

Max temps jump back above climo today, and stay there for the foreseeable future. After today (which is a little cooler), we settle into a regime with highs mainly in the 60s thru the work week. A few cooler spots in the eastern UP will be around 60f, and a few warmer spots in northern lower MI will take a run at 70f.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z MONDAY/

Issued at 639 AM EDT Sun Oct 18 2026

VFR, but windy today and LLWS at times this morning and tonight. Developing gusty sw winds are bringing warm but dry air to the region. Some high clouds at times, but nothing other clouds of note. Gusty sw winds today, especially CIU/PLN/TVC. LLWS this morning and again part of tonight.

APX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MI...None. MARINE...Gale Warning until 11 PM EDT this evening for LHZ345-346. Small Craft Advisory until 5 AM EDT Monday for LHZ347>349. Gale Warning until 11 PM EDT this evening for LMZ323-341-342- 344-345. Small Craft Advisory until 5 AM EDT Monday for LMZ346. Small Craft Advisory until 11 PM EDT this evening for LSZ321- 322.