Warmer temps ahead as fall starts next week, weather service says
Jakkar AimeryTemperatures this week have been a bit chilly in southeast Michigan. But next week, conditions will feel more like summer in the days leading up to the official start of autumn, the National Weather Service predicts.
Readings on Thursday were expected to reach the upper 60s with mostly sunny skies during the afternoon, according to the weather service website. Readings were expected to edge back into the lower 70s on Friday.
Similar conditions were expected Saturday before a chance of rain arrives Sunday, when the mercury could hover near 70, NWS reported.
Warmer temperatures were expected to recover beginning Tuesday, with highs in the mid 70s, then climb into the mid to upper 70s by the end of next week.
"We've kind of had a persistent trough (or relatively low atmospheric pressure) over the eastern part of the U.S., off and on, which has led to the cooler air mass coming down out of Canada," said Kyle Klein, a meteorologist with the NWS station in White Lake Township. "That is going to be shunted much further east with a ridge building over the central and and eastern U.S. instead."
Klein said the shift will allow for warmer air mass that's been confined to the south to move back north, leading to warmer temperatures for the latter half of next week and the beginning of the following week.
While autumn begins on Sept. 23, Klein said next week's weather pattern for the region will be slightly above normal temperatures for this time of year, adding that "it'll feel more summer-like than fall-like."
On this day last year, readings for southeast Michigan observed a high of 84, while the average for Sept. 14 is around 75, Klein added.
But warmer temperatures expected next week won't mean it's time to store jackets just yet.
"During the day, it will probably be warm but there's still a chance we could have the cool mornings ... or evenings," Klein noted.
jaimery@detroitnews.com