4Warn Weather – Keep the umbrella within reach Tuesday night as a cold front brings showers and a few thunderstorms across Southeast Michigan, but the wet weather will not stick around for long.
Showers moving into the region Tuesday will become more widespread overnight as the front crosses Lower Michigan.
The best opportunity for rain in and around Detroit comes during the overnight and early-morning hours, with showers likely and a thunderstorm possible, especially between about 2 a.m. and 5 a.m.
Most communities should receive relatively modest rainfall totals, although thunderstorms can produce locally higher amounts.
Temperatures will fall into the mid- to upper 60s, with a west-southwest wind around 5 to 10 mph and occasional gusts approaching 20 mph.
The biggest overnight impacts will be periods of rain, wet roads, occasional thunder, and briefly reduced visibility in heavier showers.
Wednesday improves quickly
A few showers could linger early Wednesday morning before the front settles south of the area.
Clouds will gradually give way to increasing sunshine, with highs generally in the lower 80s.
There is a small possibility of a stray shower developing again Wednesday afternoon, but most of Metro Detroit should remain dry.
A great stretch for outdoor plans
Thursday and Friday are shaping up to be two of the better outdoor-weather days of the week.
Thursday should feature plenty of sunshine with highs in the lower 80s, followed by another mostly sunny to partly cloudy day Friday with highs in the lower 80s.
Humidity should also be manageable compared with some of the hotter, more humid stretches Metro Detroit has experienced this summer.
That makes Thursday and much of Friday favorable for mowing the lawn, taking the dog for a longer walk, eating outside, golfing, biking, or getting other outdoor projects done.
What about kite flying? The answer is a qualified yes.
A kite generally performs better with a steady breeze rather than calm conditions or strong, erratic gusts.
Wednesday’s post-frontal breeze may offer the better opportunity, although winds may still be relatively light.
Drone flying? Thursday looks more favorable. Drone operators generally want relatively light winds, good visibility, and no precipitation.
Weekend plans: Saturday is the day to watch
If you are already making weekend plans, there is an important distinction between Saturday and Sunday.
Rain chances begin increasing late Friday night. Another disturbance is expected to bring a better opportunity for showers Saturday, with thunderstorms also possible during the afternoon and early evening.
Highs will be around 80 degrees.
The timing and coverage of the rain will still need to be refined. Anyone planning yard work should keep checking the 4Warn Weather forecast as the weekend gets closer.
Sunday currently looks much better: mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies and noticeably comfortable temperatures in the mid- to upper 70s are expected behind the system. Monday also looks mainly dry with highs in the upper 70s to near 80 degrees.
Hurricane Lala strengthens in the Central Pacific
Far away from Michigan, Hurricane Lala continues to strengthen over the Central Pacific.
Lala became better organized Tuesday, developing a more defined eye as it moved generally westward. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center said Tuesday that the hurricane was expected to eventually turn northward toward the remote Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
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