4Warn Weather – The best opportunity for isolated showers and thunderstorms is becoming increasingly focused north of Metro Detroit Wednesday evening, while most of the region should remain dry.
A boundary interacting with atmospheric energy will help to create a favored area for additional showers and thunderstorms mainly north of I-69 through 10 p.m.
Further south, odds are low that thunderstorms make their way into Metro Detroit.
However, an isolated shower cannot be ruled out in Metro Detroit’s northern suburbs.
Cloud cover has played an important role in Wednesday’s setup. Persistent clouds held temperatures in the 70s across much of southern Southeast Michigan during the afternoon, limiting instability.
Farther north, sunshine allowed temperatures to climb into the 80s, helping to create a more unstable atmosphere.
Storm chances diminish later Wednesday night, with clearing skies and some fog potentially developing toward daybreak Thursday.
Clearing skies could offer a view of the Perseids
There may be another reason to look up once clouds decrease.
The Perseid meteor shower peaks Wednesday night into early Thursday morning, and viewing conditions could improve across Metro Detroit as skies gradually clear overnight.
This year’s peak coincides with a new moon, meaning there will be little to no moonlight washing out the fainter meteors.
The best viewing generally comes after midnight and before daybreak, away from city lights and in areas where skies have cleared.
Under ideal nighttime sky conditions, dozens of meteors per hour could be visible near the shower’s peak, although cloud cover and light pollution will reduce that number locally.
Quieter weather Thursday through Saturday
Some patchy fog could develop early Thursday morning, followed by partly sunny skies and highs in the mid-80s.
A high-pressure to the north should help push the more favorable moisture and instability south of Michigan, limiting the opportunity for additional thunderstorms, but a few scattered light rain showers are possible near and south of I-94.
Friday also looks dry with decreasing clouds and highs near 85 degrees.
Saturday should provide another largely dry day for outdoor plans, including the Woodward Dream Cruise.
Mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies are expected with highs in the lower 80s.
A stray shower is possible late.
Rain chances return for the second half of the weekend
The next weather system begins approaching the Great Lakes late Saturday into Sunday.
A chance of showers returns after about 2 a.m. Sunday, with additional showers and thunderstorms possible during the day Sunday as a cold front approaches Southeast Michigan.
Highs Sunday could reach the mid-80s.
The front should move through by early next week, allowing mainly dry weather to return Monday and Tuesday, with highs in the lower 80s.
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