Still hot and humid in metro Detroit

Does this create severe storm risk?

DETROIT – Our string of hot, humid weather continues, and a lot of you are wondering about the potential for strong storms.

Keep in mind that, just being very hot and muggy doesn't automatically qualify us for severe weather (or thunderstorms at all).

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Meteorology is three-dimensional, and perhaps you'll be surprised to learn that most of the ingredients that cause our weather happen aloft.

In the case of yesterday and today, it's certainly steamy enough outside, but temperatures at a certain point aloft are warm enough that we're not getting any widespread convection (parcels of violently rising air).

As you'll read below, that will change tomorrow ...  

Outside of a stray evening thunderstorm that most of us won't see, tonight should be partly cloudy overall, with lows again in the upper 60s to near 70° (21° Celsius for you Canadians). Very light wind from the west-southwest.

Partly cloudy, hot and humid again on Thursday, but this time I think we'll see a greater coverage of thunderstorms due to an upper level disturbance over the area (which will cool those temps aloft, and allow for greater instability to develop). Some of those storms tomorrow afternoon could be strong to severe -- I'll need to keep an eye on this for you.

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter at @PGLocal4 for radar updates, and to download the free Local4Casters weather app if you want to monitor the radar yourself. Highs in the mid to upper 80s (30-31° Celsius), with a 5 to 10 mph wind from varying directions. Thursday's sunrise is at 7:00 AM, and Thursday's sunset is at 8:04 PM.

Scattered thunderstorms are still possible Thursday night, with lows in the upper 60s.

Partly cloudy on Friday with a scattered shower (slight chance of a thunderstorm) early in the day. Highs in the mid 80s.

Then partly cloudy both Saturday and Sunday, with only the slight chance for an isolated mid-to-late afternoon thunderstorm. Highs in the mid to upper 80s, and lows in the upper 60s.

Right now it appears as if we'll continue the trend on Labor Day, with partly cloudy skies, and another hot and humid day as highs soar once again into the mid to upper 80s.  One thing I'm continuing to watch is an approaching cold front.  Some models hold it off until Monday night / Tuesday morning but, if it speeds up at all, then I'll have to add a thunderstorm chance to the late Monday afternoon forecast.

 All-in-all, though, things are looking good for Arts, Beats and Eats and all of the other great stuff happening around town this weekend…just hot, so make sure to stay hydrated.

 

That cold front finally (hopefully) crosses the area Tuesday morning with some thunderstorms and cooler, drier air behind it.

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