Cool start to Wednesday; Tracking next chance of thunderstorms

High temperatures Tuesday reached 73 degrees at Alpena airport, although temperatures were a little cooler by the lakeshore with a high of 68 degrees in Rogers City and 70 degrees in Tawas City. Lows overnight will drop to the 40s, likely the coldest temperatures in our area since June 3! Wednesday afternoon, temperatures will also be coolest lakeside where some places will remain in the upper 60s.

Clear skies extend across the Great Lakes region. Wednesday will be filled with sunshine and the clear weather will continue Wednesday night. Clouds will increase Thursday afternoon and evening.

A cold front is developing in western Canada, currently bringing rain to that area. It will travel toward the southeast, spreading showers and a risk of thunderstorms Thursday night. The cold front will move through Friday, bringing cooler temperatures after that.

For any outdoor plans, Wednesday looks great with plenty of sunshine. You may want a jacket in the morning with cool temperatures to start, and you’ll need the sunscreen midday and in the afternoon. A lot of Thursday will remain dry. Then the chance of showers/thunderstorms will increase in the late-evening to nighttime hours. Friday morning and afternoon looks showery, so you’ll want to plan something indoors for much of Friday. Drier conditions likely build in Friday evening. Saturday’s forecast is completely dry.

Wednesday: Sunny, cool in the morning. Predawn lows will cool to 45 degrees. Late-morning temperatures will climb to the lower 60s. Afternoon highs will get up to about 72 degrees. Evening temperatures will be in the 60s to upper 50s.

Thursday: Dry for most of the day, increasing clouds in the afternoon and evening, then a chance of showers/thunderstorms at night. Predawn lows will drop to around 46 degrees. Temperatures will rise to almost 70 degrees during the late-morning. Afternoon highs will warm to near 83 degrees. Evening temperatures will head into the 70s.

Friday: A chance of showers in the morning and afternoon. Predawn lows will be close to 61 degrees. Afternoon highs will reach about 82 degrees. Evening temperatures will be in the 70s to upper 60s.