Storms late Wednesday; Then turning colder

High temperatures today in Alpena set a new record, 85 degrees reached at 3 p.m. breaks the old record of 83 degrees set on this date in 2011. The warm temperatures arrived following the passage of a warm front yesterday, and enough midday sunshine combined with a brisk wind out of the southwest.

A few scattered thunderstorms have developed this afternoon, and they will diminish this evening. Another round of thunderstorms is expected tomorrow late-afternoon and evening as a cold front moves through the area. The cold front is producing a broad area of steady rain which currently extends from the Upper Peninsula all the way to Kansas, and will gradually shift northeastward.

Hurricane Michael has intensified to a category 3 hurricane and it is heading toward landfall on the Florida Panhandle coastline tomorrow. The Florida Panhandle and sections of southwestern Georgia are likely to receive 6-12 inches of rain and frequent wind gusts over 70 mph. The forecast cone below represents where the eye of the hurricane is likely to travel — the extent of winds and rain will reach well beyond the center of the hurricane.

Around Northeast Michigan, we have our own rain and thunderstorms to deal with because of an approaching cold front from the Midwest. The highest chance of rain and thunderstorms tomorrow will move through in the late-afternoon and evening. High temperatures are forecast to reach the mid-70s.

After a warm day with an unsettled finish tomorrow, much colder temperatures will move in for the end of the week. On Thursday, winds out of the west will pick up to 20 mph, and highs will only reach the mid-50s in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy skies, lighter winds, and slightly cooler temperatures are expected Friday. Over the upcoming weekend, early-morning temperatures will start in the mid-30s, and highs will reach the lower 50s with fair weather on Saturday. For the rest of Northeast Michigan’s weather forecast, watch the latest weather video by clicking the weather tab at the top of the page.