DETROIT – If you were following my weather articles last week (and my updates on Twitter over the weekend), you know that my primary focus was on Tuesday’s storm.
Over the weekend, the computer models continued trending toward a warmer solution for us, which is good news that I’ll detail below.
First, let’s start with today’s weather. We should start with some sunshine over part of the area, while other areas have some cloud cover, so you may want to grab the shades when you head out to work just in case. Regardless how much sun (or not ) you get this morning, clouds should increase this afternoon as low pressure organizes over the Central Plains and starts sending moisture up this way. However, it’ll be a dry day, so no worries there. Highs in the upper 30s (4 degrees Celsius). Southeast wind at 5-10 mph.
Today’s sunrise is at 7:41 a.m., and today’s sunset is at 5:55 p.m.
Rain moves in tonight
Tonight is where things start getting interesting. Rain will move into our South Zone, and spread northward. Temperatures are critical, in terms of our proximity to freezing (32 degrees / 0 degrees Celsius) when the rain arrives. There could be a brief period of freezing rain across our Metro, West and North Zones before a changeover to plain rain as temperatures rise above freezing. By the way, if you don’t know already, you can see which zone you’re in by clicking on the 4ZONE Weather tab on the weather page on ClickOnDetroit.com. Also remember that you can watch real-time radar on the free Local4Casters app – it has the same color breakdown as we show you on the air to help you see what type of precipitation is falling. Just search “WDIV” in the app store, and you’ll see it right there. Finally, follow me on Twitter at @PGLocal4, and you’ll receive my personalized updates.
Even though I don’t expect an “ice storm,” still use some caution when you head out overnight Monday night and first thing Tuesday morning. Test your footing and your brakes to see what the traction is like just in case there is still some lingering ice in your area.
If you are traveling, also take note that colder temperatures up north and also west of here in Wisconsin means that they’ll receive more ice, and (especially in Wisconsin) some accumulating snow, too.
Rain is likely on Tuesday, with highs ranging from near 50 degrees (10 degrees Celsius) in our South Zone to only the low 40s (5 degrees Celsius) in our North Zone.
One thing that I’m concerned about on Tuesday is the potential to receive between one-half inch and one inch of rain, which would be tough news for the Macomb County sinkhole / sewer main issues. My suggestion, if you live in the affected communities and have to use your dishwasher or do some laundry this week, is to avoid doing that on Tuesday and the first part of Wednesday.
Our next issue is Tuesday night: Rain will end in the evening once a potent cold front crosses the area, and it’ll become very windy and sharply colder. Trust me: you’ll know when the front comes through by the increase in wind and quick temperature drop. How quickly the temp drops below freezing will determine if wet roads will become icy, or if that water will mostly evaporate first before the temp hits freezing. So here’s another suggestion to use some caution and assess things when you head out late Tuesday night / first thing Wednesday morning. At this point, I don’t expect any snow concerns.
Windy and much colder on Wednesday, with temperatures falling through the day. More important to you is the wind chill, which should be in the mid to upper teens all day (-9 to -7 degrees Celsius).
Sunshine should gradually increase on Thursday, but that sun will be purely cosmetic as highs only reach the mid 20s (-4 degrees Celsius).
Increasing clouds and becoming breezy on Friday, with a chance of snow developing ahead of some warmer air pushing in. It’s too early to say for sure, but some models early this morning are suggesting that we could see some accumulation by the end of the day Friday into Friday evening. Highs back into the low to mid 30s (0 to 1 degree Celsius).
This upcoming weekend weather is somewhat uncertain but, based upon today’s models, I’d plan for a chance of rain developing later Saturday and continuing into Sunday…more potential bad news for the Macomb County sinkhole / sewer problem.
You can always take the weather with you with the Local4Casters app.