GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan – Damp leaves stick to driveways and cool mist clings to the air across West Michigan this early Thursday. After a night of light rain, the final waves of showers will slide through by midmorning, ushering in a chillier stretch that feels unmistakably like late October. Residents should brace for falling temperatures, brisk northwest winds, and the season’s first real flirtation with frost by Friday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids, scattered showers will linger into Thursday afternoon before clearing from west to east. Highs will struggle to reach 50°F, and the chill will deepen as winds shift northwesterly behind the passing front. By late Thursday night, skies clear and temperatures dip into the mid-30s — cold enough for patchy frost in rural areas from Holland to Ionia. Gardeners are encouraged to cover sensitive plants or bring them indoors before sunset.
Friday and Saturday look bright but cool, with highs only in the low 50s and lows near freezing, especially inland from Lake Michigan. Light northwest breezes will keep mornings crisp and afternoons pleasant — ideal for fall cleanup or early Halloween decorating.
By Sunday, temperatures rebound slightly into the upper 50s with sunshine returning in full. The pattern stays dry through early next week before another round of showers moves in Monday or Tuesday.
Across the Midwest, this same system marks the growing season’s end from Iowa to Ohio, as the first frosty nights settle in. For Michigan, the bigger question is what comes next — and with colder air building to the north, the first flurries of the season may not be far behind.
Five-Day Forecast for Grand Rapids, MI:
Thu: 50/38 – Cloudy; scattered showers, breezy northwest wind.
Fri: 51/33 – Mostly sunny; patchy frost early.
Sat: 54/37 – Sunny and cool; light wind.
Sun: 57/38 – Mostly sunny; milder afternoon.
Mon: 57/40 – Partly cloudy; chance of showers late.
