Justin Liles: Clearer skies return Thursday

Every once in awhile being next to Lake Superior has its advantages. Today after waking up to thick smoke, a red sun and the smell of wildfire, the winds shifted. The shift to an easterly wind off the lake helped clear out some of the haziness over the shorelines of the big lake. Now, smoke will hang west and south of the Twin Ports Thursday. Winds will continue to be off the lake through the end of the week. As we approach Grandma’s Marathon festivities, our weather conditions look to improve.

First, any wildfire smoke will be gone by late Friday and Saturday for the races. Secondly, all rain showers look to hold off until Saturday late afternoon and evening. This may affect evening tent activities but at least the running part will be over. The rain that does come this weekend won’t put much of a dent into our deficit. We need a good rain of an inch or two to help alleviate our drier conditions. Temperatures will remain rather warm with sunshine heading into Father’s Day.

TONIGHT
Areas of smoke. Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. Breezy, with an east wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
THURSDAY
Areas of smoke away from lake. Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. Breezy, with an east wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
FRIDAY
Areas of smoke before 8am. Sunny, with a high near 69. East wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
SATURDAY
A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. East wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
SUNDAY
A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. Breezy, with an east wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
JUNETEENTH
Sunny, with a high near 73. Breezy, with an east wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
TUESDAY
Sunny, with a high near 75. Breezy, with an east wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
WEDNESDAY
Sunny, with a high near 77. Breezy, with an east wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.