MARQUETTE — Many area residents may have noticed leaves changing, winds howling, rains falling and temperatures sinking over the past week.

Although fall doesn’t technically start until Sept. 23, it appears some of the telltale signs have arrived; and more is likely in store, as “there’s no real clear signal that we’re going to get a warm-up to summer-like weather in early September,” said Jonathan Voss, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service Office in Negaunee.

Temperatures have been below the daily averages every day following Aug. 20 except Tuesday, with the National Weather Service Office in Negaunee reporting several days 9 to 11 degrees below average in that period.

The area has also seen thunder, lightning and wind in recent days, with a storm Tuesday downing many trees and leaving thousands in Marquette County without power.

“It seems like we’re transitioning to a little more active fall pattern,” Voss said.

There’s also a chance for more wet weather.

“We were in a fairly dry pattern and now we’re influenced by a trough of low pressure that’s kind of over the upper Great Lakes,” meaning there’s a “little bit better chances for rainfall throughout this week,” said Jim Salzwetel, observation program leader at the National Weather Service Office in Negaunee.

The coming days and weeks are likely to exhibit a relatively variable weather pattern typical of the season, Voss said.

“It’ll be kind of up and down as far as temperatures go over the next week to 10 days. That’s not atypical for fall to see that roller coaster of the temperatures,” he said. “It’s a little more active part of the year where you have some systems moving through.”

For the first half of September, there will be a series of systems “rolling through the Great Lakes,” meaning the area can expect “some warmer and cooler periods and probably some chances for showers periodically through that whole period,” Voss said.

With all of the seasonal changes, there’s that age-old question for this time of year: will there be any more swimming-worthy weather?

“There probably will be some nicer days where I’m sure people can still go to the beach,” Voss said. “Keep your eye on the weather.”

This weekend might be a good opportunity to enjoy a dip in Lake Superior, he said, as the “temperature will probably get a little closer to what would be normal this time of year,” he said, as highs are predicted to reach the low 70s with light winds in the Marquette area, with lows sinking to the mid-40s.

However, temperatures could be a “little more fall-like,” today, he said, as the high is expected to be around 66 degrees, with lows from 40 to 45 inland.

While Monday and Tuesday could bring high temperatures in the low to mid 70s, those days also come with a chance of rain. By Wednesday, the highs are predicted to be just about 65 degrees.

It is uncertain at this point, but Voss said there are “indications we could get some more rain toward the end of next week, and cooler temperatures.”

Despite the fact that the area’s beach days may be running out fast, another favorite outdoor opportunity will be on its way with the change in seasons — fall color viewing.

Bright orange, yellow and red leaves have already been spotted in areas around Marquette County — a few examples can be found out at Presque Isle Park in Marquette, as well as M-35 between county roads 492 and 480 — and more are yet to come,

“Typically our peak is early October for the fall colors,” Voss said.

“You’ll see more of the leaves changing and turning brighter colors as you go through September because they’ll be losing their chlorophyll.”

While the coming weeks are expected to be cooler than average, there is a chance for a warmer-than-average fall season, according to the National Weather Service’s three-month temperature outlook for September, October and November.

“There’s a 40% chance of above normal temperatures during that fall period, it’s kind of hedging toward a little bit of a warmer fall, warmer than normal anyway,” Salzwetel said.

The chance for near-normal temperatures is over 30%, while the chance for below normal fall temperatures is 24%, according to the outlook.

And while many may have the recent The Old Farmer’s Almanac 2020 edition’s “Parade of Snowstorms” prediction for the Upper Peninsula in mind, Voss emphasized: “As far as the weather service is concerned, it’s still too early to say what to expect for winter right now.

“We’re just going to have to wait and see,” he said.

Cecilia Brown can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248.