See why and how a hurricane influences Great Lakes weather.
While the southeast U. S. braces for a possible major hurricane, Michigan and the Great Lakes region should brace for some majorly nice weather. The nice weather is a by-product of Hurricane Florence.
Hurricanes have a circulation pattern that sends air outward and upward from the hurricane. The air then sinks as it travels away from the hurricane. Sinking air warms up and dries out.
So typically there is a 500-mile donut shaped area surrounding a hurricane that gets sunny and warmer than average weather.
The image shows the forecast at around 15,000 feet up for this Friday, September 14.
You can see the approximate position of Hurricane Florence. Don’t use this position as the official forecast. Use the National Hurricane Center forecast track.
The red shading essentially shows where temperatures are warmer than normal in the upper atmosphere. And where it’s warm aloft, it’s usually warmer than normal at the ground.
The sinking air motion outside of the hurricane also dries up and dissipates clouds.
I typically see the area we are in with relation to the hurricane having sunny skies and temperatures warming into the mid-to-upper 80s. I typically see the high temperature forecast trend upward several degrees as the time period in question gets closer.
That means Michigan and the rest of the Great Lakes region can expect some great, summer-like weather coming up for the second half of our work week and the weekend.
While devastation may be occurring somewhere along the southeast coast late this week, we will be basking in warm sunshine.
