Memorial Day weekend forecast: Great weather Saturday, but mixed forecast Sunday, Monday

LANSING — It won't be good beach weather, exactly, but you'll probably be able to pull off that backyard barbecue over the Memorial Day weekend, depending on your timing.

As of Thursday afternoon, forecasters were calling for generally mild temperatures and a mix of sun and clouds over the weekend in mid-Michigan, with periods of rain likely and thunderstorms possible. Sunday and Monday were looking a little more iffy, the National Weather Service said.

"Saturday will be the best day," said Ernie Ostuno, a forecaster at the weather service's Grand Rapids station. "On Sunday, rain will be coming in the afternoon − increasing chances during the afternoon. Showers on and off on Monday."

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Friday should be sunny and pleasant, with highs nearing 80 degrees, before showers and possible thunderstorms move in on Friday night and early Saturday morning, forecasters said. There is a marginal risk of severe weather in the Lansing area on Friday night, the weather service said.

But things should dry out after about 8 a.m. Saturday, with tempertures reaching into the high 60s, they said.

It should stay dry on Saturday night and into Sunday, with highs on Sunday in the mid-70s.

What happens after that depends on how far north the warm front goes, Ostuno said.

"If it stays south of us, we'll just get some rain and scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening," he said.

As for Memorial Day, itself, expect cool temperatures and periods of rain, with thunderstorm possible in the afternoon, the weather service said. Highs should be in the mid-60s.

Contact Ken Palmer at kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on X @KBPalm_lsj.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan Memorial Day weekend forecast: Mild temperatures but rain possible