Rain showers continue to push east across Southeast Michigan early this morning and most areas are expected to be dry by daybreak. While the morning commute should improve as the rain departs, we’ll be keeping an eye on the potential for a few thunderstorms later today.
A scattered thunderstorm or two may develop this afternoon, and while widespread severe weather is not expected, an isolated strong to severe storm cannot be ruled out. The primary concern would be damaging wind gusts. The greatest potential for any stronger storms appears to be along and north of I-69, where a Marginal Risk (Level 1 out of 5) for severe weather is in place between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. Temperatures will rebound into the upper 70s with sunshine breaking through.
Friday looks mainly dry across Southeast Michigan, although a few isolated showers could develop south of I-94 during the afternoon. A warming trend then takes hold for the weekend. High temperatures will climb back to around 80 degrees Saturday and Sunday with a mix of sun and clouds.
The bigger story arrives early next week as heat and humidity build across the Great Lakes. Forecast models continue to show strong agreement that temperatures could surge into the upper 90s Tuesday and Wednesday, with some locations approaching the 100-degree mark. Combined with increasing humidity, heat indices may climb even higher. Periods of showers and thunderstorms will remain possible during the heat wave, but now is the time to start preparing for the hottest weather of the season so far. Whether it’s a sprinkler, splash pad, swimming pool, or lake, you’ll want a plan to stay cool as dangerous heat potentially settles into Southeast Michigan through the middle of next week as a strong ridge in the jet stream develops over the Great Lakes.