FORECAST SUMMARY: Tuesday May 27th, 2025, through Friday May 30th, 2025
Ozone:
Ozone concentrations are expected to be in the Good range.
PM-2.5:
PM-2.5 concentrations are expected to be in the Good to low-Moderate range.
FORECAST DISCUSSION:
The slow climb back to seasonally normal temperatures continues this week as we return to the 70s. An upper-level pattern in the atmosphere is providing temperatures near our normal highs for this time of year with a slight dip below normal throughout the week. The dip will be tomorrow, Wednesday, as a Low-pressure moves in from the south, cooling down temperatures and producing rain showers for most of the state. It is not expected to be a complete washout, but lingering rain showers should be expected. This pressure system moves out of the area come Thursday afternoon and a rather nice weather pattern sets up for the weekend ahead come Friday.
For air quality, although temperatures, on average, this week are increasing, they are still too cool for any real Ozone development. Couple that with rain showers and mostly cloudy skies for a good majority of the week, Ozone will predominantly be in the Good range. PM-2.5 concentrations will follow the same pattern with Good AQI throughout the week due to lingering rain showers and northwesterly flow later in the week providing cleaner air. During the morning commute hours when winds are light, there may be a few hours of low-Moderate concentrations in the metro areas, but those concentrations will dissipate throughout the day. I will note that there are currently active wildfires in northwestern Ontario and eastern Manitoba. Smoke from these fires may make its way towards the western upper peninsula later this week and into the weekend, but nothing is certain as of now. Our eyes will be watching the fire activity throughout this week.
EXTENDED FORECAST:
As mentioned above, warmer and sunnier weather conditions are on the horizon with the help of a favorable upper-level pattern setting up for the weekend. Air quality concentrations are expected to remain in the Good range.
Next Forecast update: Friday May 30th, 2025