FORECAST SUMMARY: Monday March 23rd, 2026, through Friday March 27th, 2026
Ozone:
Ozone concentrations are expected to be in the Good (Green AQI) range.
PM-2.5:
PM-2.5 concentrations are expected to be in the Good (Green AQI) to Moderate (Yellow AQI) range.
FORECAST DISCUSSION:
We enter the last full week of March on a relatively quiet note, aside from a few lake-enhanced showers this Monday morning, as High-pressure will slide in going into tomorrow, Tuesday. Seasonal normal temperatures are expected this week with a few days above seasonal averages due to a warm front and southwesterly flow. The peak in temperatures will be Thursday for the lower peninsula as the 60s make a return, but a stubborn stationary front will sit near the Straits of Mackinac and cause the upper peninsula to hang around the mid-30s. Accompanying this front, which will move over the state Friday morning, will be mixed precipitation at times with rain as the main precipitation type. With the passing of this front, winds will shift back to north-northwesterly, cooling the lower peninsula back down into the 40s and near seasonal norms.
Air quality will be ebb-and-flowing this week with the passing of fronts, shifting winds and light winds when the High-pressure moves in. With the southwesterly winds on Wednesday and into Thursday, PM-2.5 concentrations should be expected to increase into the Moderate range for lower Michigan. As the aforementioned frontal boundary moves through the state come Friday, however, those concentrations are expected to decrease. Along with the wind shift, precipitation will help to clean out the atmosphere with a good airmass change.
EXTENDED FORECAST:
The weekend ahead looks mostly clear of any systems with High-pressure lingering to the south. Temperatures will be around seasonal norms and air quality is expected to be in the Good range.
Next Forecast update: Friday March 27th, 2026