An abnormally warm and mostly quiet stretch across Southeast Michigan is coming to an end as a more unsettled pattern develops heading into Friday and the weekend.
Temperatures climbed well into the 70s on Thursday, with a few locations touching 80 degrees.
Aside from isolated showers in parts of Livingston County during the afternoon and early evening, most areas remained dry, including the Tigers game in downtown Detroit.
Thursday night will stay mild with increasing clouds.
A few sprinkles are possible early in the evening, then skies turn partly cloudy overnight with lows in the lower to mid 50s.
Friday
Changes arrive Friday as a weather system moves into the Great Lakes. Isolated showers are possible during the morning, followed by a better chance of showers and thunderstorms developing during the afternoon and evening.
There may be a lull around midday, followed by more widespread activity later in the day.
A marginal (level 1 out of 5) risk for severe weather is in place for far southern Southeast Michigan, mainly along the Michigan-Ohio border, including Lenawee and Monroe counties.
While widespread severe weather is not expected, a few storms could produce wind gusts near 60 miles per hour, hail up to around one inch, and brief heavy rainfall.
Localized ponding on roads may also occur during downpours.
Showers and thunderstorms become more likely Friday night as a cold front moves through. Rainfall totals between a quarter and a half inch are possible, with locally higher amounts under stronger storms.
Saturday
Cooler air settles in behind the front for the weekend.
Saturday will be mostly cloudy, with a chance of showers early in the day and a noticeable drop in temperatures.
Highs will struggle to reach 60 degrees in some communities.
Expect the lower 60s in Detroit, with a north wind gusting to around 20 mph.
Saturday night will turn partly cloudy and cooler, with lows in the lower to mid 40s.
Sunday
Sunday brings a return to quieter weather with a mix of sunshine and clouds. High temperatures will reach the lower 60s, closer to normal for late April.
Looking ahead
The pattern remains somewhat unsettled early next week. Monday looks dry during the day with highs in the upper 60s, but showers are expected to develop Monday night.
Those showers may linger into Tuesday, especially in the morning, before gradually tapering off.
This time of year also marks the average last freeze window for Detroit.
While no widespread freeze is currently forecast, overnight temperatures could still drop into the 30s in parts of Southeast Michigan next week.
That means sensitive plants could still be at some risk for frost.
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