Detroit woke up to a gray, murky start today, with patchy fog hanging over the city and temperatures in the upper 30s. A Wind Advisory is in effect from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and gusty southwest winds are expected to turn the afternoon commute into a blustery ride. Light showers are possible through the afternoon, with a chance that rain mixes with snow later in the day as temperatures slip back into the upper 30s.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
South-southwest winds are forecast to ramp up to 10–20 mph this afternoon and evening, with gusts that could reach up to 45 mph. That kind of punchy wind can make driving tricky for high-profile vehicles and send unsecured trash cans or lawn furniture tumbling down the block. The strongest gusts are expected between late morning and early evening, so drivers should take extra care on bridges and wide-open stretches of highway, according to NWS Detroit.
Foggy Morning, Wet Afternoon Commute
Dense fog early this morning cut visibility in spots to around 3.5 miles, slowing some surface commutes and creating patchy slick areas on lower-lying roads. The fog is expected to thin after sunrise, but light rain is set to return before the afternoon rush and could briefly knock visibility down again, local meteorologists warn. Read the local briefing at ClickOnDetroit.
Rain Then Mix, Snow Likely Sunday
There is about a 50% chance of light rain today, with new rainfall totals generally expected to stay under one tenth of an inch. As colder air moves in this afternoon, some wet snow could briefly mix in with the rain and may stick in the colder spots. Looking ahead to Sunday, snow becomes more likely, although most areas are expected to see less than an inch of accumulation, and the weather service is also flagging gale-force gusts over Lake St. Clair and parts of Lake Erie that could impact boaters, per NWS Detroit.
How To Prepare
Residents are urged to secure outdoor furniture and loose yard items, take it slow on wet or foggy roads, and avoid travel on exposed lakes today if they can. Keeping phone chargers handy in case of brief power outages is a smart move, and it is worth checking updated forecasts through the evening in case conditions change.
