Gaylord, Michigan – An unusually warm and dry Tuesday in Northern Lower Michigan could trigger an elevated fire risk before midweek storms return.
According to the National Weather Service in Gaylord, Tuesday, May 13 will remain mostly sunny and breezy across Gaylord, Otsego County, and surrounding areas, with highs near 75°F and south winds gusting up to 10 mph. The dry air and persistent sunshine are expected to heighten fire danger across eastern Upper Michigan and northern Lower Michigan. Residents are urged to avoid open burning and use extreme caution with outdoor equipment.
While Tuesday offers a quiet start to the week, conditions will shift by Thursday night as thunderstorms become possible across much of the region. A weak disturbance is forecast to bring showers late Wednesday and again Thursday evening into Friday. The NWS reports a 40% chance of showers after 2 p.m. Wednesday, increasing to 50% Thursday night with the possibility of thunder.
Travelers on US-131 and M-32 should be alert for sudden changes in visibility and slick roads during evening commutes later this week.
Looking ahead, the spring-like pattern cools slightly for the weekend. Friday and Saturday will stay mostly cloudy with highs in the mid to upper 50s, before clearing briefly Sunday with a high near 54°F.
Thunderstorm chances return again late Sunday into Monday. No hazardous weather is expected overnight Monday into Tuesday.
Warnings may be updated later this week depending on Thursday’s storm development.
