Severe Thunderstorm Warning 52, NWS Gaylord, MI

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GAYLORD MI
600 PM EDT WED AUG 18 2004

.SHORT TERM...UPDATED ALL GRIDDED/TEXT FORECASTS TO ACCOUNT FOR
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM....AS PRE-FRONTAL
LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS PUSHES INTO THE FORECAST AREA.

ROWLEY

&&

.PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...ISSUED 330 PM EDT WED AUG 18

SHORT TERM...SFC ANALYSIS SHOWING COLD FRONT NOW WORKING INTO
WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR AND WESTERN WISCONSIN WITH A LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS RAMPING UP OUT AHEAD OF THE FRONT. AS ANTICIPATED
EARLIER TODAY, SFC BASED INSTABILITY WITHIN THE WARM SECTOR AHEAD OF
THE FRONT NOT ALL THAT IMPRESSIVE WITH MSAS COMPUTED LIS RUNNING
-2C TO -4C. EVEN MORE ANEMIC ACROSS NRN LOWER AND EASTERN UPPER MI
AS DEWPOINTS HAVE DROPPED BACK OFF TO THE MID AND UPPER 50S IN MOST
LOCATIONS AND LAPS ANALYSIS INDICATING SBCAPE VALUES OF 600 J/KG OR
LESS AS OF 2 PM. NONETHELESS, VERY STRONG DYNAMICS WITH THIS SYSTEM
CANNOT BE IGNORED AND A NICE LINE OF CONVECTION IN NOW RACING TOWARD
THE CWA.

FOR TONIGHT...STILL LOOKING LIKE A FAIRLY SOLID LINE OF STORMS
MIGRATING THROUGH THE CWA THIS EVENING, AND CLEARING MOST OF THE CWA
EXCEPT PORTIONS OF NE LOWER AFTER MIDNIGHT. CURRENT FORECAST APPEARS
ON TARGET IN THIS REGARD DO NOT PLAN ON CHANGING MUCH.

AS FAR AS SEVERE WEATHER IS CONCERNED...LOOKING THE SAME AS EARLIER
TODAY WITH GREAT DYNAMICS FOR A SVR WEATHER THREAT. BULK SHEAR
VALUES RUNNING 40-50 KNOTS AND 500 MB WINDS RANGING FROM 50-80 KNOTS
(STRONGEST OVER THE NRN HALF OF THE CWA). CLEARLY A SQUALL LINE
EVENT WITH SOME POTENTIAL FOR SUPERCELL DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE
STRONG SHEAR ENVIRONMENT AND DAMAGING WINDS THE PRIMARY THREAT. BUT
AGAIN BIGGEST QUESTION IS ONE OF INSTABILITY. WILL CERTAINLY
CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT THE SVR WEATHER RISK THIS EVENING IN THE
HWOAPX ALONG WITH SEVERE WORDING IN THE ZONE FORECASTS, AND MONITOR
CONVECTION AS IT ARRIVES.

BEHIND THE FRONT...CORE OF 40+ KNOT WINDS AT 850 MB WILL PASS ACROSS
EASTERN UPPER MICHIGAN BEHIND THE FRONT. TIGHT THICKNESS
GRADIENT/STRONG CAA RIGHT AFTER FROPA SUGGESTS A GOOD AMOUNT OF THIS
WILL BE ABLE TO MIX DOWN FOR A FEW HOURS THIS EVENING, AND WILL KEEP
THE GALE WARNING GOING FOR WHITEFISH BAY AS WELL AS THE STRAITS TO
PRESQUE ISLE NEARSHORE ZONE (DUE TO NW FLOW AND SHORELINE
CONVERGENCE). OVER LAND, WIND GUSTS WILL APPROACH WIND ADVISORY
LEVELS IN E UPPER (ALREADY DOING SO IN NRN MN) PARTICULARLY ALONG
THE N SHORE OF SUPERIOR. SO WILL PUT CHIPPEWA COUNTY IN A WIND
ADVISORY FOR THIS EVENING TO COVER THIS.

ADAM

LONG TERM...FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL CONTINUE TO SAG SWD THROUGH THE
OHIO RIVER VALLEY ON THU...AS SURFACE RIDGE MOVES IN FROM THE W. THU
AND FRI LOOK RELATIVELY QUIET...WITH CLOUD COVER AND TEMPERATURES
THE BIGGEST FORECAST CHALLENGE.

THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...AS MENTIONED...SURFACE RIDGE WILL POKE
INTO THE CENTRAL LAKES REGION FROM HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED OVER IA.
IN SPITE OF RIDGE...850 MB THERMAL TROUGHING AND PERSISTENT CYCLONIC
FLOW ALOFT WILL SUPPORT CU DEVELOPMENT. THIS IS SUPPORTED BY ETA
MODEL SOUNDINGS...WHICH SUGGEST SCATTERED RELATIVELY FLAT CU BY
MIDDAY. BASED ON COVERAGE OF UPSTREAM CU OVER NRN MN AND ND...WILL
OPT FOR PARTLY SUNNY FORECAST (DOWNWIND LOCATIONS ALONG LAKE MI
SHORELINE WILL LIKELY BE MOSTLY SUNNY -- THANKS TO STABLE MARINE
LAYER). 950 MB WIND SPEEDS AROUND 10 KTS AND GOOD MIXING OVER LAND
SHOULD SUPPORT AFTERNOON LAKE BREEZES SOUTH OF THUNDER BAY. MIXING
THROUGH 850 MB SUGGESTS HIGHS RANGING FROM 60-65 IN ERN UPPER...TO
THE MID/UPPER 60S NRN LOWER.

WEAK RIDGING WILL GIVE WAY TO ANOTHER SHORT WAVE DROPPING IN FROM
NW. ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT WILL REACH LAKE SUPERIOR BY 06Z...AND ERN
UPPER AROUND 12Z. BEST QG FORCING IS FORECAST TO REMAIN WELL NE OF
REGION...WITH ONLY LIMITED MOISTURE ALONG FRONT (PER MODEL
SOUNDINGS). WILL KEEP DRY FORECAST FOR THUR NIGHT...AND LIMIT SLIGHT
CHANCE OF SHOWERS TO ERN UPPER FOR FRI MORNING.

FRIDAY...FORECAST AREA WILL BE SANDWICHED BETWEEN A COUPLE OF
SYSTEMS. PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED COLD FRONT MAY PROVIDE A BRIEF SHOWER
TO ERN UPPER FRI MORNING. FARTHER SOUTH...500 MB IMPULSE WILL PUSH
FROM CENTRAL PLAINS INTO WRN OHIO VALLEY. GFS APPEARS TO BE AGAIN BE
SUFFERING FROM CONVECTIVE FEEDBACK PROBLEMS (PER QPF AND SURFACE
PRESSURE FIELDS). WILL CONTINUE TO DISCOUNT GFS WET SOLUTION...AND
BANK ON SHOWERS REMAINING S OF FORECAST AREA FRI AND FRI NIGHT.
MODEL SOUNDINGS (EVEN ETA) SHOW FAIR AMOUNT OF MID/UPPER CLOUDS
ACROSS CENTRAL/SRN PARTS OF FORECAST AREA. EXPECT CU TO THE N. AN
OVERALL PARTLY SUNNY DAY EXPECTED WITH HIGHS IN THE 60S TO NEAR 70.

SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...ANOMALOUSLY STRONG AND PERSISTENT LATE
SUMMER POLAR VORTEX WILL INFLUENCE NORTHERN MICHIGAN/S WEATHER
EARLY THIS WEEKEND -- WITH CONTINUED BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES.
HOWEVER...THERE ARE SOME EARLY INDICATIONS THAT MODERATING
TEMPERATURES CAN BE EXPECTED BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. GFS/ECMWF
AGREE THAT SHORT WAVE ALOFT WILL ROTATE THROUGH REGION ON SAT.
HOWEVER...WITH SURFACE RIDGE IN PLACE AND NO REAL LOW LEVEL
BOUNDARY...A COOL BUT DRY IS EXPECTED. SURFACE RIDGE WILL REMAIN IN
CONTROL THROUGH SUN. CHILLY 850 MB TEMPERATURES WILL SUPPORT HIGHS
ONLY IN THE 60S SAT...WITH PERHAPS 65-70 BY SUN. GFS/ECMWF THEN DROP
ANOTHER SHORT WAVE AND ASSOCIATED SURFACE FRONT SE INTO REGION ON
MON -- WILL OPT FOR SHOWERS/STORMS MON AND MON NIGHT. GEM IS MUCH
WEAKER WITH THIS FEATURE...AND WILL BE DISCOUNTED AT THIS TIME.
ECMWF (AND TO LESSER EXTENT THE GFS) DRIVE FRONT THROUGH THE AREA BY
EARLY TUE SUPPORTING A RETURN TO DRY WEATHER. THEN...AS MID WEEK
APPROACHES (PER GFS AND ECMWF) PERSISTENT UPPER TROUGH APPEARS
POISED TO RETREAT NEWD AS HEIGHTS RISE ACROSS THE LAKES REGION. DRY
AND WARMER (ACTUALLY SEASONABLE) WEATHER IS EXPECTED BY WED AS A
RESULT.

SMITH

&&

.APX...WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
       GALE WARNING...TONIGHT...WHITEFISH BAY AND MACKINAC BRIDGE TO
       PRESQUE ISLE LIGHT.
       WIND ADVISORY...THIS EVENING...CHIPPEWA COUNTY.

&&

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GAYLORD MI
425 PM EDT WED AUG 18 2004

MIZ008-015>036-041-042-LSZ321-322-LMZ323-341-342-344-345-
LHZ345>349-191100-
ALCONA-ALPENA-ANTRIM-ARENAC-BENZIE-CHARLEVOIX-CHEBOYGAN-CHIPPEWA-
CRAWFORD-EMMET-GLADWIN-GRAND TRAVERSE-IOSCO-KALKASKA-LEELANAU-
MACKINAC-MANISTEE-MISSAUKEE-MONTMORENCY-OGEMAW-OSCODA-OTSEGO-
PRESQUE ISLE-ROSCOMMON-WEXFORD...INCLUDING THE ADJACENT WATERS
WITHIN FIVE NAUTICAL MILES OF SHORE ON LAKE MICHIGAN...LAKE HURON
AND LAKE SUPERIOR
425 PM EDT WED AUG 18 2004

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN LOWER AND EASTERN
UPPER MICHIGAN.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

THUNDERSTORMS WILL SWEEP ACROSS EASTERN UPPER AND NORTHERN LOWER
MICHIGAN THIS EVENING. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY BE SEVERE...
PRODUCING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THE THREAT FOR SEVERE STORMS
WILL DIMINISH BY MIDNIGHT.

THERE IS ALSO AN INCREASED RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS THIS EVENING ON THE
LAKE MICHIGAN BEACHES OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN...ESPECIALLY ALONG US-2
WEST OF THE MACKINAC BRIDGE. THE RIP CURRENT RISK WILL CONTINUE
THROUGH THE NIGHTTIME HOURS ON THE LAKE MICHIGAN BEACHES OF NORTHERN
LOWER MICHIGAN.

GALE FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED ON WHITEFISH BAY AND PORTIONS OF LAKE
HURON TONIGHT.

SEE ONGOING WATCHES...WARNINGS...OR ADVISORIES FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PARTS OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN
SUNDAY NIGHT...MONDAY...AND MONDAY NIGHT.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS POSSIBLE THIS
EVENING. DISPATCHERS...PLEASE NOTIFY YOUR EMERGENCY MANAGERS
IMMEDIATELY.

&&

MORE INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE FOLLOWING URL:
HTTP://WWW.CRH.NOAA.GOV/APX (ALL LOWER CASE)

SMITH

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GAYLORD MI
550 PM EDT WED AUG 18 2004

MIZ008-015>036-041-042-190300-
ALCONA-ALPENA-ANTRIM-ARENAC-BENZIE-CHARLEVOIX-CHEBOYGAN-CHIPPEWA-CRAW
FORD-EMMET-GLADWIN-GRAND TRAVERSE-IOSCO-KALKASKA-LEELANAU-MACKINAC-
MANISTEE-MISSAUKEE-MONTMORENCY-OGEMAW-OSCODA-OTSEGO-PRESQUE ISLE-
ROSCOMMON-WEXFORD-
550 PM EDT WED AUG 18 2004

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1100 PM EDT
WEDNESDAY EVENING. THIS WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES

IN NORTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN
     CHEBOYGAN...PRESQUE ISLE...ANTRIM...OTSEGO...MONTMORENCY...GRAND
     TRAVERSE...KALKASKA...CRAWFORD...ALCONA...OSCODA...BENZIE...
     MANISTEE...IOSCO...WEXFORD...MISSAUKEE...ROSCOMMON...OGEMAW...
     ARENAC...GLADWIN...CHARLEVOIX...EMMET...LEELANAU AND ALPENA

IN EASTERN UPPER MICHIGAN
     CHIPPEWA AND MACKINAC

THIS WATCH INCLUDES THE ADJOINING COASTAL WATERS OF AFFECTED
LAKESHORE COUNTIES.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS OF 60 MPH OR
GREATER AND HAIL LARGER THAN THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH. ALL
THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DEADLY LIGHTNING. IF YOU LIVE IN OR NEAR THE
WATCH AREA...REMAIN ALERT TO RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS. BE
PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION IF SEVERE WEATHER APPROACHES.

ADAM