A powerful fall storm system will bring widespread rain and potentially hazardous winds to Michigan beginning Thursday afternoon, with gale warnings issued for all Great Lakes waters surrounding the state. Strong northerly winds will develop Friday as the storm system deepens while moving through the Lower Great Lakes. Lake Superior could see sustained winds near gale force with gusts reaching 45 to 50 mph Friday morning, creating significant wave heights between 15 and 20 feet along southern lakeshores. On Lake Michigan, northwest winds will quickly ramp up between 35 and 40 mph Friday with waves building between five and eight feet. Gale watches are in effect for all Michigan waters of Lake Superior, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron from Friday morning through Friday night. Land areas across Michigan can expect wind gusts in the 30 to 40 mph range Friday afternoon.
Temperatures will drop significantly behind the cold front. Highs Friday will only reach the upper 40s to low 50s across most of the state, with some areas experiencing near-steady temperatures through the day. Friday night into Saturday morning will bring the coldest conditions, with lows dropping into the mid to low 20s across interior locations. Some lakeshores may reach freezing for the first time this fall season, with frost and freeze conditions likely Saturday morning.
NWS and MLive
