News photo by Steve Schulwitz One of the ice sculptures left from the Alpena Ice Festival slowly loses its form because of some warm weather in Alpena. Temperatures are expected to continue to climb, but the cold is expected to return next week.

ALPENA – Northeast Michigan has entered what many people refer to as fool’s spring, where the temperatures begin to feel like spring, but aren’t expected to remain around for long.

That is precisely what the extended forecast for the Alpena area is predicting. Temperatures are expected to climb into the upper 50s this weekend, before slowly falling back into the 20s.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Joe DeLizio said people will have a chance to go outdoors and not fret the arctic cold that seems to have been around much of this year so far.

“It is going to be fairly nice, inland areas can expect high’s in or near the 50’s as we approach the weekend, and into the early parts of next week,” DeLizio said.

With all the ice that has accumulated throughout the winter, the increase in temperatures should help reduce that problem.

“The combination of higher temperatures and rain in the forecast should help get rid of a lot of that snow that’s piled up and take care of some of that ice that continues to linger,” DeLizio said.

The forecast for Friday calls for a 50 percent chance of showers after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. Friday night, showers and a possible thunderstorm are expected with a low around 38. The chance of precipitation is 90%.

For the remainder of the weekend highs are expected to reach the 50’s during the day with a low in the 30’s at night. There is a 40% chance of showers on Saturday afternoon, and Sunday is expected to be dry.

Monday and Tuesday the warm temperatures will continue with highs in the 50’s and lows in the mid 30’s before mire winter-like weather returns.

“After the weekend and into parts of early next week it’s back to reality,” DeLizio said. “Highs in the 30’s creep back in on Wednesday, with lows in the 20s expected for the remainder of next week.”

DeLizio also mentioned a weather system that could produce another blast of arctic air in a couple weeks.

“The third week of March there is a weather system we are keeping an eye on that could produce another blast of cold weather,” DeLizio said.