FORECAST SUMMARY: Monday December 23rd through Friday December 27th, 2024
OZONE:
November marks the end of the 2024 ozone season. The 2025 ozone season will begin on March 1st.
PM-2.5:
24-hour average Fine Particulate concentrations are expected to be a mix of Good (AQI Green) and Low Moderate (AQI Yellow) for the entire forecast period.
FORECAST DISCUSSION:
We kick off the last full week of December with a clipper system impacting the state with multiple forms of precipitation. As the system moves through today, Monday, a sharp temperature gradient will move through as well providing ample snow amounts to the north and mixed precipitation in mid-Michigan and south. The overall system will traverse the state rather quickly, and only really impacting the state through Monday evening. As we wake up on Tuesday, Christmas Eve, clear skies will be overhead due to a High-pressure system moving in from the west. Tuesday also marks the start of warm up Michigan will see throughout this upcoming week with the weekend being the peak with some areas making a run at the 50s. Before we get to the weekend, however, Christmas Day will be rather quiet with only the very southern portions of the state potentially seeing a few rain showers. With the increase in temperatures throughout this week, winds will predominately be from the southern direction, hence why we see an increase in temperature. Come Thursday and Friday, both days are pretty similar with temperatures ranging from the mid-30s to upper-40s.
For air quality this week, we start off in the Good range for much of the state this Monday morning. As the week carries on and weather patterns change, Moderate conditions should be expected due to southerly winds, and an increase in temperature along with snow melt from said increase in temperature. Melting snow releases particulates into the air that were trapped in between snowflakes or any other frozen precipitation. So as the snow melts those particulates are re-released into the atmosphere in the form of PM-2.5. Also, with much of the state seeing an existing snowpack, once the temperatures increase later this week, low-level atmospheric inversions will more than likely form which will trap particulates near the surface. This will especially be true for more populated areas like Grand Rapids and Detroit. Overall, PM-2.5 concentrations are expected to be in the Good to Moderate range with concentrations improving each day as wind picks up and allows for particulates to disperse into the atmosphere.
EXTENDED FORECAST:
EXTENDED FORECAST:
As mentioned above, we will the 50-degree mark return to the state this weekend. PM-2.5 concentrations will continue to range from the Good to Moderate category.
Next Forecast Update: Friday December 27th, 2024