FORECAST SUMMARY: Monday, May 5th, 2008 through Monday, May 12th, 2008

Ozone: 8-hour concentrations are expected to be Good through the forecast period.

PM-2.5: 24-hour fine particulate concentrations are expected to be a mixture of Good and Moderate early in the weekend then mostly Good later in the week and through the weekend.

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

The new work week begins under a dome of high pressure and sunny skies. Statewide Fine Particulate concentrations on Monday are a mixture of Good and Low Moderate. As the center of high pressure slides to the east during Monday, a warm front will develop over Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Surface trapping of Fine Particulates near the front will allow some of our monitors to record Low Moderate concentrations, but I don't expect any more serious buildup than that.

The warm front will spawn a series of low pressure waves through midweek. This will provide several opportunities for rain events. I expect Fine Particulates to continue to be a mixture of Good and Moderate through that time period.

A stronger center of low pressure will pass to our south during the Wednesday/Thursday time frame. The wind circulation around this low will bring Michigan easterly winds by Thursday then, eventually, northerly winds by the weekend. These winds should clean out any residual buildup of Fine Particulates and put the entire state back into the Good air quality category.

Ozone concentrations should remain Good throughout the full forecast period due to clouds, precipitation, favorable winds and cooler temperatures.

EXTENDED FORECAST:

High pressure will follow the departing late week frontal system. Pleasant, sunny and cooler weather should prevail through most of the weekend providing Good Air Quality for both Fine Particulates and Ozone.

Forecast updated by Jim Haywood: Monday, May 5th, 2008

Next forecast update: Monday, May 12th, 2008

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