Southeast Michigan faces a severe weather outlook today, with strong winds, hail, flooding and even an isolated tornado possible as a warm, humid day gives way to a more dangerous overnight storm threat.
A round of morning showers with a few rumbles of thunder is possible through about 10 a.m., then temperatures are expected to climb back near 81 degrees as winds turn southwest at 15 to 25 mph with occasional gusts near 30 mph. Another round of thunderstorms is expected to develop after 8 p.m., and the highest likelihood for stronger storms is between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., when wind gusts over 60 mph, large hail and torrential downpours are possible.
That timing matters because the region is already dealing with damp ground in spots, which raises the flooding concern if heavier rain trains over the same areas. The pattern is active across Southeast Michigan, and the air will stay warm and humid before the late-night window opens.
The contrast is what makes this stretch tricky. Wednesday and Thursday are expected to remain warm, with highs between 70 degrees and 75 degrees and on-and-off showers, and Wednesday could still bring an isolated rumble of thunder. Friday is shaping up to be the one dry day in the stretch, which gives the region a short break after the overnight storms pass.
The real issue is not whether the day starts wet or ends wet. It is that the strongest storms are most likely after people have settled in for the night, when they are harder to watch and easier to miss.
