News photo by Josh Jambor Larry Skiba from Alpena fishes near 9th Avenue Dam on Tuesday afternoon. The comfortable weather is currently expected to continue through the weekend with minimal chances for precipitation today, and this weekend.

ALPENA – Residents in Alpena and across Northeast Michigan are welcoming a burst of summer-like weather this week, just days after a cooler and wetter Memorial Day weekend blanked the area.

With sunny skies and highs climbing into the upper 70s and low-to-mid 80s, the forecast is a hopeful sign that the warmer season is on the way.

The National Weather Service (NWS) forecast for Alpena calls for mostly dry and increasingly comfortable conditions through the weekend, ideal for outdoor recreation as the region transitions into summer. NWS Meteorologist Joe Delizio described the current and upcoming weather and what people in the region can expect later this week.

“We are expecting a large portion of the week to remain dry in the area, there is a possibility for some brief showers today, and another possibility this weekend,” Delizio said. “A large majority of the week will be dry and relatively warm.”

This favorable weather pattern sets a perfect stage for summer activities in Alpena and surrounding communities. Locals and visitors can take advantage of the sunshine and take a boat ride on Lake Huron or enjoy the scenery on land and hike the trails in the nearby state parks, go fishing, or simply enjoy downtown Alpena.

“The current weather pattern is different from what we have been seeing lately, we have some ridging (the development or presence of an elongated area of relatively high atmospheric pressure) off to our west, and low pressure is a little bit further to our east,” Delizio said. “We are currently in the middle of those two features and with that we will be near or above average temperatures through the weekend.”

The warmer temperatures represent a nice warmup following a cooler stretch earlier this spring.

“We have had low pressure systems moving overhead throughout the early portion of the month which led to our below average temperatures,” Delizio added.

This warm spell perfectly sets the stage for the unofficial start of the summer in Downtown Alpena. The 4th annual Alpena Flower Festival is scheduled to run from June 5-7.

Downtown streets will bloom with creative floral installations by local florists, interactive photo ops, live music, themed cocktails, and family-friendly activities.

Residents are reminded that northern Michigan spring weather can still bring rapid changes, though the current extended outlook remains largely dry and stable. The National Weather Service urges checking the latest updates, especially for those planning extended outdoor time near the water, where winds could feel cooler.

“You should always keep yourself informed when it comes to the forecast, realistically it is looking relatively dry throughout the extended forecast,” Delizio said. “There will be intermittent precipitation chances, but as of now, it looks dry overall.”