The Air Quality Alert remains in effect across Southeast Michigan today as Canadian wildfire smoke continues to impact the region. Hazy skies will persist throughout the day, although smoke concentrations may gradually improve later tonight as weather conditions change. Expect increasing clouds with afternoon highs in the low 80s, making for a cooler day compared to the recent stretch of heat. While much of the daylight hours will remain dry, attention turns to the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms overnight.
Southeast Michigan remains under a Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) for severe weather tonight into early Tuesday morning. The greatest potential for severe storms is expected between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Tuesday, although storms could begin developing as early as midnight, especially across portions of the Tri-Cities, including Midland and Bay County, before moving southeast. The primary threat with the strongest storms will be damaging wind gusts up to 65 mph along with brief, heavy downpours that could reduce visibility and cause localized ponding on roadways. There is also a lower-end threat for isolated hail and a brief tornado, so it’s important to have multiple ways to receive weather warnings while you’re sleeping. The storms are expected to move out by Tuesday afternoon, allowing drier weather to return for the second half of the day.
A refreshing change arrives for the middle of the week as temperatures settle into the 70s with overnight lows dropping into the 50s. The cooler, less humid air will provide a brief taste of early fall before a warming trend returns later in the week, sending temperatures back into the 80s by next weekend.