Marine Hail in Lake Huron, August 24, 2011

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
404 PM EDT WED AUG 24 2011

.SHORT TERM...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

CONDITIONAL SEVERE THREAT CONTINUES THIS EVENING. 18Z DTX SOUNDING
REVEALED QUITE A STRONG CAP IN PLACE IN THE WARM SECTOR ENVIRONMENT
OVER SE MICHIGAN. WHILE NOT FAVORABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT AT THIS
TIME...STRONG LIFT AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING SHORTWAVE AND COUPLED
WITH A ROBUST LOW LEVEL FRONTAL CIRCULATION MAY STILL PROVE TO BE
ENOUGH TO OVERCOME THE INVERSION. THIS IS ESPECIALLY THE CASE IF
TEMPS CAN CONTINUE TO CLIMB INTO THE UPPER 80S. AS OF
19Z...DEWPOINTS IN THE LOW TO MID 70S HAD OVERSPREAD THE ENTIRE CWA
WITH TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM AROUND 80 IN THE NORTH TO MID/UPPER
80S ACROSS THE SOUTH. CONTINUED WAA AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND GRADUAL
LIFTING OF THE CAP SHOULD STILL ALLOW TEMPERATURES TO RISE INTO THE
MID TO UPPER 80S ALMOST EVERYWHERE BY THIS EVENING.

OVERALL THINKING REMAINS RELATIVELY UNCHANGED SINCE LAST NIGHT.
UNIMPRESSIVE UPSTREAM CONVECTION IS ONGOING WITHIN THE PREFRONTAL
TROUGH...BUT IS OCCURING IN AN AREA THAT WAS SHROUDED IN STRATUS FOR
MUCH OF THE DAY...WHILE SE MI HAS BEEN MOSTLY CLEAR SINCE MID
MORNING. GIVEN THE STRENGTH OF THE CAP...ANY CONVECTION SEEMS MORE
LIKELY TO BE DELAYED AND FURTHER EAST AT THIS POINT. HOURLY RUNS OF
THE HRR HAVE BEEN UNUSUALLY CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT THE
DAY...INITIATING CONVECTION IN THE THUMB AROUND 20Z AND UNZIPPING
SOUTHWARD INTO METRO DETROIT BY 23Z. ANY THREAT IS LIKELY TO HAVE
EXITED THE AREA BY 10PM THIS EVENING.

GIVEN THE 50+KTS OF EFFECTIVE BULK SHEAR AHEAD OF THE FRONT COURTESY
OF A 50+KT MID LEVEL SPEED MAX THAT WILL OVERSPREADING THE WARM
SECTOR....AND MLCAPES OF 2500-3000 J/KG...THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR
CONVECTIVE MODES TO BE INITIALLY SUPERCELLULAR IN NATURE. THE THREAT
WOULD THEN TRANSITION TO STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS AS HODOGRAPHS BECOME
MORE STRAIGHT WITH TIME. ANY ROTATING STORMS WILL CARRY THE RISK FOR
LARGE HAIL...WHILE 0-1KM SRH AROUND 100M2/S2 OR LESS SUGGEST A
MARGINAL TORNADO THREAT AS WELL.

WINDS WILL SHIFT TO A W-NW DIRECTION BEHIND THE FRONT WITH DEWPOINTS
FALLING INTO THE UPPER 50S OR LOW 60S BY MORNING AND LOWS AROUND
60-65.

&&

.LONG TERM...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

A RATHER BENIGN WEATHER PATTERN BEGINS 12Z THURSDAY. THROUGH THE DAY
500MB HEIGHT RISES ARE SIGNIFICANT AND A 1018MB SFC HIGH NUDGES IN
FROM THE WEST. MOISTURE FIELDS AT 925-700MB AND FORECAST SOUNDINGS
SHOW A LIKELIHOOD OF SCATTERED CU BASED AT 4KFT FOR THE DAY. HIGH
PRESSURE OVER MICHIGAN STRENGTHENS THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING
LEADING TO LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS. ALSO A STRONG INVERSION FRIDAY
MORNING MAY LEAD TO SOME HAZE AND PATCHY FOG. WE SHOULD MIX DOWN
FROM +15C 850MB TEMPERATURES FRIDAY...YIELDING SURFACE HIGHS NEAR
80F. FRIDAY WILL BE ANOTHER DAY OF PATCHY CU FORMING AROUND 3500FT.

A WEAK COLD FRONT WITH RAPIDLY DISINTEGRATING MOISTURE WILL SWEEP
THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY. LAND AREAS WILL LIKELY
JUST SEE AN INCREASE IN CLOUD COVER AND THEN A MODEST TEMPERATURE
DROP BEHIND THE FRONT. LAKE HURON MAY SEE SOME LIGHT SHOWER
ACTIVITY...OTHERWISE THIS FRONT WILL JUST BE A SEGUE INTO THE NEXT
HIGH PRESSURE AREA REIGNING THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THIS HIGH IS ONLY
SLIGHTLY STRONGER THAN THE PREVIOUS...BUT WILL PROPAGATE NW TO SE
AND ADVECT IN SOME COOLER AND DRIER AIR. EXPECTING TEMPERATURES
SLIGHTLY UNDER CLIMO NORMS SUN AND MON. THAT UPPER WAVE AND
SUFFICIENT MOISTURE SCARED ME INTO A CHC POP FOR MONDAY...BUT WILL
SEE IF FURTHER RUNS SHEER OUT THAT WAVE AS EACH SUCCESSIVE RUN OF
THE GFS INDICATES. LOOKING FURTHER OUT TO TUESDAY...MODELS COME TO
THE SAME SURFACE CONCLUSION WITH DIFFERING UPPER AIR DYNAMICS. LOOKS
LIKE SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WITH MODERATELY HIGH RH'S DESPITE THE
ECMWF SHOWING AN IMPRESSIVE UPPER WAVE OVER THE GREAT LAKES.

&&

.MARINE...
GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS CONTINUE ACROSS THE AREA...THOUGH SMALL CRAFT
CONDITIONS HAVE BECOME MARGINAL ACROSS AREA WATERS WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF THE INNER SAGINAW BAY. GIVEN THE BORDERLINE CONDITIONS
AND RELATIVELY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME UNTIL THE SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES
ARE SET TO EXPIRE...WILL GO AHEAD AND LEAVE THEM IN PLACE THROUGH
THE EVENING AS WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO BE QUITE GUSTY.
THUNDERSTORMS...SOME SEVERE...ARE ALSO POSSIBLE THIS
AFTERNOON...ESPECIALLY FOR SAGINAW BAY AND EASTWARD...INCLUDING LAKE
SAINT CLAIR AND THE MI WATERS OF LAKE ERIE. AS THE FRONT RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL EXITS THE AREA...WINDS WILL SHIFT TO
THE NORTHWEST AND WILL REMAIN STRONG ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF
LAKE HURON TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY. OCCASIONAL LOW END GALE-FORCE
GUSTS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS CENTRAL PORTIONS OF LH LATE TONIGHT
INTO THURSDAY MORNING. WINDS WILL DIMINISH ON FRIDAY AS HIGH
PRESSURE RETURNS.

&&

.AVIATION...ISSUED 154 PM EDT WED AUG 24 2011

//DISCUSSION...

THE STRATUS DECK OVER WESTERN LOWER MI CONTINUES TO HANG TOUGH AT
MBS AND WILL LIKELY DO SO WELL INTO THE AFTN...POSSIBLY SCATTERING
OUT AS THE FRONT APPROACHES. THE MAIN ISSUE FOR THIS AFTN AND INTO
THE EVENING WILL BE THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER. THUNDERSTORMS
ARE LIKELY TO INITIATE JUST AHEAD OF A SURFACE COLD FRONT OVER THE
FORECAST AREA NEAR OR AFTER 20Z AND QUICKLY MOVE OFF TO THE
SOUTHEAST. BECAUSE A HIGH DEGREE OF UNCERTAINTY REMAINS REGARDING
WHERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL ACTUALLY INITIATE...TSRA GROUPS WERE ONLY
INCLUDED FOR THE EASTERNMOST AIRFIELDS OF KPTK/KDET/KDTW WHERE
CONFIDENCE IS THE HIGHEST. THE THREAT REMAINS MORE CONDITIONAL
FURTHER NORTH AND WEST. UNTIL THEN...GUSTY SOUTHERLY TO SOUTHWEST
WINDS WILL CONTINUE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON. THE FRONT IS
EXPECTED TO CLEAR THE AREA BETWEEN 03Z-06Z...ALLOWING GUSTS TO
DECREASE WITHIN A COUPLE HOURS OF SUNSET AND WINDS TO VEER TO THE
WEST AND EVENTUALLY THE NORTHWEST BY THURSDAY MORNING.

FOR DTW...GUSTY SOUTH-SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE
DAY.  WIND GUSTS MAY APPROACH OR EXCEED 30 KNOTS DURING THE MID TO
LATE AFTERNOON HOURS. THE THUNDERSTORM THREAT IS EXPECTED TO END BY
03Z AS THE FRONT PASSES AND WINDS SHIFT TO A W-NW DIRECTION.

//DTW THRESHOLD THREATS...

* HIGH CONFIDENCE SOUTHWEST WIND GUSTS WILL EXCEED 25 KNOTS THIS
AFTERNOON.

* MODERATE CONFIDENCE THAT THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT KDTW.

* MODERATAE CONFIDENCE THAT CEILINGS WILL FALL BELOW 5KFT...MAINLY
IN OR NEAR THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY.

&&

.DTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MI...NONE.

LAKE HURON...
     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...NEARSHORE WATERS FROM PORT AUSTIN TO PORT
     HURON INCLUDING SAGINAW BAY...UNTIL 8 PM WEDNESDAY.

LAKE ST CLAIR...
     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...UNTIL 8 PM WEDNESDAY.

MI WATERS OF LAKE ERIE...
     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...UNTIL 8 PM WEDNESDAY.

&&

SHORT TERM...JVC
LONG TERM....MM
MARINE.......JVC
AVIATION.....JVC

YOU CAN OBTAIN YOUR LATEST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTS ONLINE
AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/DETROIT (ALL LOWER CASE).

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
550 PM EDT WED AUG 24 2011

MIZ047>049-053>055-060>063-068>070-075-076-082-083-250830-
MIDLAND-BAY-HURON-SAGINAW-TUSCOLA-SANILAC-SHIAWASSEE-GENESEE-LAPEER-
ST. CLAIR-LIVINGSTON-OAKLAND-MACOMB-WASHTENAW-WAYNE-LENAWEE-MONROE-
550 PM EDT WED AUG 24 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST
MICHIGAN.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A CHANCE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING AS A COLD
FRONT INTERACTS WITH A WARM AND HUMID AIRMASS. THE STRONGEST STORMS
WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH AND HAIL TO ONE
INCH IN DIAMETER. THERE IS ALSO A CHANCE OF TORNADOES. THE BETTER
CHANCES FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL EXTEND SOUTH AND EAST OF A LINE FROM
SANDUSKY TO LANSING. THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE EAST AROUND 50 MPH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY OCCUR THIS EVENING.

LCZ422-423-460-LEZ444-LHZ361>363-421-422-441>443-462>464-250830-
ST. CLAIR RIVER-DETROIT RIVER-LAKE ST. CLAIR-
MICHIGAN WATERS OF LAKE ERIE FROM DETROIT RIVER TO NORTH CAPE MI-
LAKE HURON FROM 5NM EAST OF MACKINAC BRIDGE TO PRESQUE ISLE LT
BEYOND 5 NM OFF SHORE-
LAKE HURON FROM PRESQUE ISLE LIGHT TO STURGEON POINT MI BEYOND 5NM
OFF SHORE-
LAKE HURON FROM STURGEON POINT TO ALABASTER MI BEYOND 5NM OFF SHORE-
OUTER SAGINAW BAY SW OF ALABASTER TO PORT AUSTIN MI TO INNER SAGINAW
BAY-INNER SAGINAW BAY SW OF POINT AU GRES TO BAY PORT MI-
PORT AUSTIN TO HARBOR BEACH MI-HARBOR BEACH TO PORT SANILAC MI-
PORT SANILAC TO PORT HURON MI-
LAKE HURON FROM PORT AUSTIN TO HARBOR BEACH BEYOND 5NM OFF SHORE-
LAKE HURON FROM HARBOR BEACH TO PORT SANILAC BEYOND 5NM OFF SHORE-
LAKE HURON FROM PORT SANILAC TO PORT HURON BEYOND 5NM OFF SHORE-
550 PM EDT WED AUG 24 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF LAKE ERIE...LAKE
HURON AND LAKE ST CLAIR.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A CHANCE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING AS A COLD
FRONT INTERACTS WITH A WARM AND HUMID AIRMASS. THE STRONGEST STORMS
WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH AND HAIL TO ONE
INCH IN DIAMETER. THERE IS ALSO A CHANCE OF TORNADOES. THE BETTER
CHANCES FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL EXTEND SOUTH PORT SANILAC.
THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE EAST AROUND 50 MPH.

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR ALL
MARINE AREAS AS STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL PERSIST AHEAD OF THE
COLD FRONT. PLEASE SEE THE LATEST MARINE FORECASTS AND STATEMENTS
FOR DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS AND INCREASING WAVES MAY RESULT IN SMALL
CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS ON THURSDAY ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE LAKE
HURON NEARSHORE WATERS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED THIS EVENING.

SC

YOU CAN OBTAIN YOUR LATEST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTS ONLINE
AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/DETROIT (ALL LOWER CASE).

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
534 PM EDT WED AUG 24 2011

MIZ055-242145-
SANILAC-
534 PM EDT WED AUG 24 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...

AT 531 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
RAPIDLY DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES EAST OF BROWN CITY...MOVING
EAST AT 50 MPH.

ONE HALF INCH DIAMETER HAIL...WINDS UP TO 50 MPH...ARE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.

* THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  CROSWELL AND LEXINGTON BY 545 PM EDT...

GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL BRANCHES TO BE BLOWN DOWN...AND LOOSE
OBJECTS TO BLOW AROUND. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS
STORM HAS PASSED.

KEC