Detroit stepped out under bright skies and mild air today, with neighborhoods already in the 50s by early morning and an afternoon high expected near 73°F. Light east-southeast breezes should keep things pleasant for patio lunches and quick runs to the store, but the calm stretch will not last long. A frontal system is lining up to drag in showers and a better shot at thunderstorms starting Friday evening.
This Afternoon And Tonight
Through this afternoon, look for mostly sunny skies with east-southeast winds around 3 to 9 mph and temperatures topping out in the low to mid 70s. Clouds will increase a bit overnight, turning skies partly cloudy, with a low near 52°F and only a small chance of any raindrops. If you are heading down to the riverfront after work, the lighter winds should keep it a comfortable night to linger outside.
Friday Into Friday Night
Tomorrow is when the pattern turns more active. A chance of rain showers develops in the afternoon, followed by more widespread showers and thunderstorms tomorrow evening and overnight. The rain chance sits at about 50% during the day, climbing to roughly 80% at night, and forecasters expect basin-average rainfall of 0.25 to 0.75 inches, with localized totals over an inch possible in stronger storms, according to NWS Detroit. Isolated severe wind gusts are on the table, although forecasters still have low confidence in a large, organized severe outbreak. Heavy downpours, brief flooding in low spots, and gusty winds where storms track through remain the main concerns.
Commute, Flooding And The Lakes
Drivers should be ready for slower travel tomorrow evening, as ponding on city streets and quick hits of poor visibility in heavy rain could stretch commute times, especially near low-lying intersections. The National Weather Service has also flagged the potential for rises on area rivers and localized urban flooding. Out on the water, southerly to southeasterly winds will strengthen ahead of the system, and much stronger gusts are possible over northern Lake Huron later tomorrow. That is usually outside Detroiters’ day-to-day concerns, but anyone with plans on more open water will want to keep an eye on conditions.
Looking Ahead
Rain should taper off Saturday morning, with cooler, partly sunny weather settling in and highs near 61°F. Nights turn crisp, dipping into the mid-40s. Temperatures are expected to rebound into the mid 60s early next week, although more showers and thunderstorms are in the mix around Monday and Tuesday, so it is worth keeping a backup plan for any outdoor events through the week.
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