Latest weather update for Mackinac race

Here’s Mark Thornton’s latest update on the weather expected for the Bell’s Beer Bayview Mackinac Race this weekend:

Saturday
On Saturday morning a small area of low pressure and surface trough is expected to be located east of Lake Huron. This low and trough will shift east towards New England during the day. To the northwest, a cold front associated with a Low in central Manitoba will extend southward through the Dakotas. This Low and cold front is expected to reach Lake Superior late on Saturday evening. The approaching cold front is expected to produce showers and thunderstorms across Lake Huron during the afternoon/evening, however at this time the probability of an outbreak of organized severe weather is very low. Rainfall is expected by late afternoon, with .25" to .50" expected by Sunday morning.

Wind/Wave Forecast

Upper Lake

N/A

Mid Lake

West at 3 to 8 knots during the day will back to the south and increase to 5 to 10 knots late evening. Waves <= 2 feet.

Lower Lake

West at 3 to 8 knots during the day will back to the south and increase to 5 to 10 knots late evening. Waves <= 2 feet.

Sunday
At 8:00 am on Sunday morning, an approaching cold front associated with a Low in southern Canada will be draped across central Lake Superior. This cold front will move slowly east-southeast across upper Lake Huron on Sunday. This boundary is expected to produce widespread showers and thunderstorms, however at this time the probability of an outbreak of organized severe weather is very low. Rain is expected for most of the day, with total accumulation between .25" and .50".

Wind/Wave Forecast

Upper Lake

Westerly at 5 to 10 knots during the day on Sunday, before veering northwest on Sunday evening/night. Waves <= 2 feet.

Mid Lake

Generally southwest winds at 5 to 10 knots during the day will veer towards the northwest late Sunday night/early Monday morning in response to the passing cold front. Waves 1–3 feet.

Lower Lake

Southwest winds of 10 to 15 knots will diminish slightly to 8 to 13 knots by late evening/overnight. Waves 1–3 feet.

Monday
By 8:00 am on Monday morning, the slow-moving cold front and a small wave of low pressure are expected to be located near Saginaw Bay. The cold front and Low will sweep east-southeast down Lake Huron by late Monday evening. The passage of the cold front will produce showers and possibly thunderstorms, however this activity is expected to be limited to the southern half of Lake Huron.

Wind/Wave Forecast

Upper Lake

Northwest at 8 to 13 knots will diminish to 5 to 10 knots during the late afternoon/evening. Waves 1–3 feet.

Mid Lake

Northwest at 8 to 13 knots will diminish to 5 to 10 knots during the late afternoon/evening. Waves 1–3 feet.

Lower Lake

N/A