Back into the freezer this weekend

A prolonged stretch of below-normal temperatures is about to begin this weekend and last for the next several days. High temperatures Friday were divided by a cold front moving across the state. Temperatures warmed to 78 degrees in Detroit and 68 degrees in Saginaw, Mich. In fact, temperatures reached the lower 60s in Oscoda around lunchtime, and then began to drop. While temperatures in the 50s weren’t exactly warm for Alpena — notice the colder air building into the Upper Peninsula, the high reached only 38 degrees in Houghton, Mich.

The cold front that moved through earlier Friday brought soaking rain to parts of Northern Michigan in the morning and afternoon. A breeze out of the northwest will develop on Saturday, sending colder temperatures into our area. The good news in the weekend forecast is a high pressure system moving in from South Dakota will bring drier skies beginning tonight and lasting into Sunday afternoon.

A rainfall report north of Atlanta, Mich. picked up more than 3.5 inches (including what fell Thursday night). In Gaylord, more than 4 inches of rain were measured. Flooding was more of a problem over northwestern parts of Michigan and areas near The tip of the Mitt, where there were 3-5 inches of rainfall Thursday evening through Friday. Alpena had about 1.1 inches of rainfall, and rainfall amounts were substantially less south of Alpena.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy and cool. Predawn temperatures will be heading down to the lower 30s. Temperatures will climb to the upper 30s in the late-morning. Afternoon highs will be close to 44 degrees. Early-evening temperatures will be in the upper 30s.

Sunday: Gray skies, then scattered showers will move in late-day. Temperatures will drop to the upper 20s or near 30 degrees predawn. Afternoon highs will be around 44 degrees. Evening temperatures will be in the upper 30s.

Monday: A chance of showers early, then drying out. Early-morning temperatures will begin in the lower 30s. Afternoon highs will reach only about 42 degrees. Evening temperatures will cool to the middle 30s.