Warm temperatures continue, then rain moves in Tuesday night

High temperatures Monday touched 70 degrees in Alpena, 69 degrees in Saginaw, Michigan and 66 degrees in Cheboygan, Michigan. Brisk winds from the south brought these warm temperatures into Northern Michigan. Tuesday will be a little cooler, but still about 20 degrees above normal for late-March.

Cloud cover is increasing over northern Michigan. We’ll see mostly cloudy skies through Tuesday, it’ll remain dry through the afternoon hours. Then a storm system coming out of Texas will move northward. This storm system will spread rain into our area beginning Tuesday night.

Rainfall will be heaviest Wednesday predawn-morning, and a few patchy showers will still linger into the afternoon. Total rainfall amounts late Tuesday through late Wednesday will range from about 0.1-0.5 inches. Rainfall amounts will likely be lowest in eastern Iosco County. The potential of 0.5 inches of rain includes where downpours occur early Wednesday. Outside of any localized downpours, amounts should generally be less than a half-inch.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy and warm. Predawn temperatures will cool to about 38 degrees. Temperatures will rise to the lower 50s during the late-morning. Afternoon highs will reach about 61 degrees (cooler at the shoreline). Evening temperatures will be mainly in the 50s.

Wednesday: Rain, heaviest early, then patchy showers in the afternoon. Early-morning temperatures will begin n the lower 40s. Afternoon highs will get up to around 61 degrees. Evening temperatures will be in the 50s.

Thursday: Drier and cooler. Morning temperatures will bottom out close to 40 degrees. Afternoon highs will be near 50 degrees. Evening temperatures will go from the lower 40s into the 30s.

On Wednesday, March 24 a statewide tornado drill will take place at 1 p.m. It’s important to review where to shelter in the event of a tornado. The most interior room of the lowest floor in a well-built, sturdy structure provides the best shelter. Mobile homes and cars are never good for sheltering from a tornado. Michigan’s Severe Weather Awareness Week runs March 21-27, 2021.

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.