textproduct: Grand Rapids

KEY MESSAGES

- Light rain tonight and Thursday night

- Wet and warmer late weekend into next week

DISCUSSION

Issued at 142 PM EDT Wed Apr 8 2026

- Light rain tonight and Thursday night

A band of light rain is developing currently over Minnesota/northern Iowa along a cold frontal boundary. The front and associated light rain will sweep east across the cwa from late this evening through the overnight. Lingering light rain over the southeast cwa Thursday morning will quickly move southeast out of the cwa. QPF from a tenth in the southeast to a third of an inch in the northwest is expected to fall. The cold front will stall over northern Indiana Thursday before moving north Thursday night. A wave of low pressure moving northeast along the frontal boundary from the Plains will produce more showers and thunderstorms. At this time, instability is severely lacking and so thunder chances are isolated at best (10-20%) and severe weather isn't anticipated.

- Wet and warmer late weekend into next week

Friday looks dry as high pressure moves overhead. Once the high moves east Saturday, temperatures will begin to rise. H8 temperatures are progd to climb to 16c by Monday. This will push surface temperatures into the mid 70s Sunday and Monday. Showers and thunderstorms are possible along the warm front Saturday night/Sunday morning and then again throughout the rest of the weekend as short waves ride northeast from the southern Plains to the Great Lakes on the back side of the departing ridge. NCAR medium range guidance points toward the potential for strong to severe storms Monday and Tuesday; we'll definitely keep an eye on this.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 706 PM EDT Wed Apr 8 2026

Mostly clear skies are ongoing with increasing cloud cover expected later this evening. This is associated with a cold front crossing the terminals Thursday morning, with rain showers likely. Most likely is altocu around 5-7kft with the frontal passage and light rain showers given a lack of moisture. VFR is likely, with the chances of sub-VFR conditions aob 10 percent. Once showers clear the terminals, skies will clear out once again.

Wind is the other concern with this TAF package. LLWS is expected tonight due to both winds increasing to around 50-60 knots at 2kft overnight ahead of the front, and about a 30 degree offset between surface and 2kft winds. Wind gusts of 20-30 knots are expected overnight and to around 20 knots during the day. Southerly winds this evening will become westerly by Thursday afternoon.

MARINE

Issued at 142 PM EDT Wed Apr 8 2026

A gale warning remains in effect until 11 am Thursday north of Holland. A small craft advisory remains in effect for the same time south of Holland.

South wind flow is increasing as high pressure to the east gives way to low pressure over the upper Midwest. Look for a wind shift to the north behind a cold front that will move through Thursday afternoon.

HYDROLOGY

Issued at 142 PM EDT Wed Apr 8 2026

The crest on the Grand River is near Comstock Park as it slowly moves downstream. Locations upstream will continue to slowly fall through Friday. Earlier this morning we cancelled the flood warning for the Thornapple River near Caledonia and the Red Cedar at East Lansing; the rivers there have fallen below flood stage.

Locations downstream from Comstock Park on the Grand River will see the river continue to slowly rise. Don't ever drive onto a flooded roadway, because the road may have washed out beneath the flood waters.

Light rain is expected tonight with qpf of a tenth over the Lower Grand basin and a third of an inch across the Muskegon basin. That's likely not enough precipitation to push the river levels back up. More light rain is expected Thursday night and Friday and this time the Grand basin will see two thirds of an inch of rain and around a third over the Muskegon basin. The two rainfall events will likely slow the rate of river level falls.

GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MI...None. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 11 AM EDT Thursday for LMZ844-845. Gale Warning until 11 AM EDT Thursday for LMZ846>849.