Metro Detroit weather forecast: Severe threat increasing Wednesday night

DETROIT – Partly sunny and warm today, with highs in the mid 80s (30 degrees Celsius).

It’ll also become noticeably more humid, with the humidity making it feel more like 90 degrees (32 degrees Celsius).  Today’s only fly in the ointment is that, with the warmer temperatures (compared to yesterday) and the increasing humidity, an isolated shower or thunderstorm is possible mid-to-late afternoon, but few of us will see rain, IF any develops.

Today’s sunrise was at 6:07 a.m., and today’s sunset is at 9:10 p.m.

Warm and muggy tonight with a late night shower or thunderstorm possible – probably not until close to the morning rush hour.  Lows near 70 degrees (21 degrees Celsius). 

Wednesday weather forecast

After some scattered showers and thunderstorms Wednesday morning, sunshine will return to the area and boost highs into the upper 80s to near 90 degrees (32 degrees Celsius), with the humidity making it feel like it’s in the mid 90s (34 degrees Celsius).  An isolated thunderstorm is possible Wednesday afternoon, and any storm that develops could be severe, with all severe weather types on the table.

Wednesday night bears watching, as an approaching cold front barrels into our hot, humid air mass and generates a line of powerful thunderstorms.  Based upon this morning’s computer model data, these storms have a high probability of becoming severe, and will possibly cross the area in the middle of the night.  My big concern is with any storms that develop far ahead of the main line of storms that will accompany the front.  Those could become supercells…which means they could have some rotation, which would introduce a tornado threat. 

The big line of storms will mainly be a widespread severe wind and hail threat.   Make sure that your weather radio is on “alert” before you go to bed, as it’s possible that warnings will be issued when you’re asleep.  Of course, those of you with the FREE Local4Casters app can check the radar anytime you want to see what’s headed our way.  Just download it from the app store…search under WDIV…it’s right there.

Thursday weather forecast

Mostly cloudy on Thursday, with a few showers and thunderstorms possible (not severe).  Highs near 80 degrees (27 degrees Celsius).

Partly cloudy and less humid on Friday, with highs near 80 degrees (27 degrees Celsius). 

As I mentioned yesterday, the timing of our weekend cold front will probably change as the week progresses, and it already has.  I’ve now pulled the thunderstorm chances from the Saturday forecast, and expect a mostly sunny day with highs in the mid 80s (30 degrees Celsius). 

The computer models now suggest that a weaker front than expected will cross the area on Sunday.  In fact, many models suggest little or no rain as the front passes by.  I’m not ready to categorically say “no rain” on Sunday, but things are starting to look more promising that we’ll have a mainly dry summer weekend.  Highs Sunday should reach the low to mid 80s (28-29 degrees Celsius). 

For those of you who have been waiting for a hot, sunny stretch of weather (and I know that’s not all of you, just some of you), next week is your week.  I expect a lot of sunshine, with highs near 90 degrees (32-33 degrees Celsius) by Tuesday…continuing through the end of the week.