textproduct: Grand Rapids

KEY MESSAGES

- Additional rain mainly far south through today - Small chance of residual showers south for Monday and Tuesday

- Seasonable and mainly dry Wednesday and beyond

DISCUSSION

Issued at 309 AM EDT Sun Sep 20 2026

- Additional rain mainly far south through today

We have cancelled the Flood Watch a few hours early this morning.

We have seen quite a bit longer of a break of the steady and heavier rain than expected Saturday afternoon through the current time. It seems that the area of showers/storms that moved through Saturday morning, pushed the elevated baroclinic zone/front aloft a bit further south. The low level jet has taken time to re-establish itself, which it is now doing to our SW.

It is likely that the band of rain completely SSW of the forecast area early this morning could sneak up to our far SW corner as the next wave pushes it north just a little bit. Consensus from new model guidance and mean amounts show that far SW Van Buren could see an inch or so of rain today, with lesser amounts to the NE. This area did not see the heavier amounts yesterday, as they were a little further north. The bottom line is we are not expecting any areas to see 4-5 inches total from this that was the impetus for the Watch.

It may take much of the day for the rain to push south of the area once it moves in, but all areas should be dry by sunset tonight.

- Small chance of residual showers south for Monday and Tuesday

The boundary that has been the focus of the rain the last few days is expected to be pushed further south, and will be much less of an influence on the area as compared to the last couple of days.

The upper low that is in charge of the synoptic pattern over the region is showing signs over having less of an influence on the weather for Southern Lower, resulting in lower chances of rain for only the southern areas through Tuesday. This trend is the result of the upper low complex showing more likelihood that it rotates further south, and has much less of a direct influence on our weather as a stronger high pushes it south away from the area.

- Seasonable and mainly dry Wednesday and beyond

The models are in good agreement (for now) that the upper low will move far enough away by Thursday that we get under the influence of a stronger long wave ridge that slowly builds toward the area. This will get held up by stronger systems to our west and east. We will start out cool with highs barely in the 60s. Building heights and a flow of warmer temperatures eventually from the south will push max temps back up in the 70s for the latter half of the area with lows in the 40s and 50s.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/

Issued at 200 AM EDT Sun Sep 20 2026

Widespread LIFR conditions are found at all of the terminals, and are bordering on VLIFR. A few light sprinkles are around, but the low clouds are the main culprit. Some showers over Lake Michigan could impact the southern sites, along with some possible expansion of rain showers from the south. After sunrise, we should see slowly improving conditions from the LIFR-VLIFR first thing, to VFR toward sunset as the continuing winds from the ENE bring in drier air from the NE. These winds could be a bit gusty in the afternoon with gusts to 25 knots likely.

MARINE

Issued at 309 AM EDT Sun Sep 20 2026

We will be issuing a Small Craft Advisory for the northern two marine zones for today and tonight. We will be holding off on a Beach Hazards statements due to more of an offshore flow and the weather preventing it from being a good beach day this late in the season.

Strongest winds behind the departing system will be across northern areas beginning later this morning, and then waves coming down overnight. The southern areas will see winds near criteria, but it is marginal considering they will be completely blowing offshore.

GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MI...None. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 2 AM EDT Monday for LMZ848-849.