Detroit woke up this morning to cloudy, mild air and temperatures near 63°F, the kind of start that hints the day is going somewhere warmer. By afternoon, the Motor City is expected to climb into the upper 70s, with highs around 78°F, accompanied by breezy west-southwest winds. A slight chance of morning showers should fade into partly sunny skies, but the real storyline is the growing threat of thunderstorms tonight and lingering into midweek.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
This afternoon, winds will run WSW around 13 to 17 mph, with gusts up to roughly 30 to 31 mph. Those gusts are enough to send unsecured patio furniture sliding and make riverfront and bridge crossings feel lively. High-profile vehicles should take it easy, and anyone banking on calm conditions for outdoor plans may want a backup option ready.
Storms Increasing Tonight Into Midweek
Thunderstorm chances ramp up tonight and stick around until tomorrow and Wednesday, although the exact timing and placement are still a bit fuzzy. The National Weather Service in Detroit has outlined a Marginal Risk for severe storms tonight into early tomorrow and a Slight Risk Tuesday night. The primary concerns are damaging wind gusts, small hail, and locally heavy rain that could trigger brief street flooding. Several rounds of storms could bring a few tenths of an inch of rain tonight and up to a half inch or more in some neighborhoods by midweek, according to NWS Detroit. Evening plans deserve a weather check, since storms could roll in after 8 p.m. and spill over into the overnight and morning commutes.
Boaters and Commute Tips
Small Craft Advisories are posted this morning for parts of the nearshore lakes and Lake St. Clair, a solid hint that recreational boaters should hold off on heading out and make sure gear is secured. On the roads, brief heavy downpours can lead to standing water and quick drops in visibility, so plan for a little extra travel time in the evening and early morning, and slow down for any flooded stretches.
When To Watch
Today brings a slight shower chance before 7 a.m., then turns partly sunny and breezy with a high near 78°F. Tonight until tomorrow, scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected after 8 p.m., with the best chances late overnight into Tuesday morning. Another round of storms is likely tomorrow afternoon and evening. Wednesday and Thursday stay unsettled with additional thunderstorm chances before drier weather edges back in later in the week.
.jpg){kind=link}