Warm, sunny October continues with weekend highs near 70: Get Bill Steffen's weekend forecast.

Here’s a picture from the Muskegon GLERL camera on Thursday. I saw a big ship and at least half a dozen smaller boats out on the water. When I checked the Port Sheldon buoy, waves were only 4 inches high. The water temperature at Holland was 55 degrees. The water temperature of Reeds Lake was 62 degrees.

So far, this month has been 3.7 degrees warmer than average in Grand Rapids. We’ve had only 0.27 inches of rain since Oct. 2. Five of the last six days have brought us sunshine. So far, this has been one of the top five sunniest Octobers.

Here’s a three-day total rainfall forecast. Heavier rain is likely in parts of Colorado, Western Kansas, New Mexico and the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. A few spots could see 2-3 inches of rain over the 72-hour period. There will also be scattered, mostly afternoon showers and T-storms along the Atlantic Coast in Florida. The Great Lakes will stay dry through the weekend.

Here are severe weather reports from Thursday. A blue dot is a report of wind damage or a gust over 57 mph. A green dot is a report of hail at least 1” in diameter.

The Thursday reports were all from Arizona and western New Mexico. Three-inch diameter hail hit Page Springs, Arizona. Video supposedly of a severe hailstorm near Phoenix. I have not verified the location and I have my doubts, but cool video nonetheless. Here’s good video of the (possible) tornado damage in Arizona.

Two-day rainfall was heaviest in the mountains of southern California, with 4.75 inches at East Camino Cielo and 4.38 inches at Las Cruces. Close to shore, Los Angeles had 0.59 inches and San Diego just 0.23 inches.

Today, the severe weather shifts east into New Mexico, with a level 2 risk in yellow covering much of the state. The level 1 risk is in dark Green. Dry weather is expected east of the Mississippi River, with the exception of a few scattered non-severe storms over South Florida.

The Severe Weather Outlook for Saturday shows a level 1 Marginal Risk in west Texas and central New Mexico. Michigan stays dry.

Here are high temperatures for this Friday. Look for afternoon highs in the upper 60s to near 70 degrees, a good 10-12 degrees warmer than average. There will likely be at least scattered fog the next couple of mornings. Winds will remain light and a lake breeze will likely keep it a bit cooler near Lake Michigan. The high temperature Thursday was 70 degrees in Grand Rapids, but just 60 degrees at Holland Beach.

The warm air rules statewide. Look at the forecast high temperatures of 71 degrees at Houghton and 75 degrees at Ironwood (20 degrees warmer than average).

Same story on Saturday … lots of sunshine with highs in the upper 60s to near 70 degrees inland and low 60s at Lake Michigan.

The daily update of the 8- to 14-day temperature outlook shows no change. Above-average temperatures for West Michigan and much of the country east of the Rockies.

The forecast also calls for slightly above-average rainfall during the first week of November.

Five-day forecast

• Friday: Patchy fog will reduce visibility this morning; otherwise, mostly sunny; great day to be outside. High: 67 degrees. Tonight, clear to partly cloudy skies, with a low of 46 degrees.
• Saturday: Thin cloudiness; great weather for viewing fall foliage. High: 67 degrees. In the evening, partly cloudy, with a low of 51 degrees.
• Sunday: Partly sunny; a nice end to the weekend. High: 67 degrees. In the evening, partly cloudy skies, with a low of 49 degrees.
• Monday: Cloudy, with a high of 62 degrees. In the evening, cloudy, with a low of 43 degrees.
• Tuesday: Cloudy, with a high of 59 degrees. In the evening, mostly cloudy, with a low of 46 degrees.

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