FORECAST SUMMARY: Friday, October 6, 2023, through Monday, October 9, 2023

Ozone: 8-hour average ozone concentrations are expected to be mostly Good.

PM-2.5: PM-2.5:  24-hour average Fine Particulate concentrations are also expected to be mostly Good.

FORECAST DISCUSSION: As predicted during my Monday forecast, the 80-degree weather enjoyed during the first half of the week, exited the state during passage of a late-week cold front.  A secondary front will also pass through the state, Friday afternoon, ushering in much cooler air for the weekend.  With the northwesterly flow, I am expecting Good Air Quality with no problems from ozone, fine particulates, or smoke.

An upper-level low, that will move through Saturday, will influence our weather over the next week.  As the cooler air travels across Lake Michigan, we can expect the weekend in the western half of the state to be mostly cloudy with periodic rains showers and perhaps even a rumble or two of thunderstorms.

With the shortening days, ozone will cease to be a concern and the ozone season will officially end at the end of October.  Wildfires in Canada are on the wane, as well.  Many of the fires in eastern and central Canada that caused so many issues in our Midwest and Eastern seaboard states during June have been extinguished or reduced and have become less of a problem.  Most of the large Canadian fires still burning are now contained in the Alberta, British Columbia, and Northwest Territories provinces in western Canada.

Columbus Day (Monday) should show a gradual return to clearer skies but still cooler temperatures with daily highs in the low 50’s and continued Good Air Quality.

EXTENDED FORECAST: Air Quality should be generally Good to start the next work week.

Next Forecast Update: Monday, October 9, 2023