Storms Hit Eastern Michigan, Then a Dry Weekend and Mild Spring Ahead

Eastern Michigan faces a small chance of strong winds this afternoon. Forecasts say that areas east of I‑75, including Saginaw, the Thumb, Flint, Detroit and Ann Arbor, could see gusts up to 60 mph. The worst of the storms will arrive when temperatures are highest, between 3 p. m. and 8 p. m. In northern Michigan, thunderstorms will start earlier around 2 p. m. , moving through places like Manistee and Traverse City. Later, the Thumb and Flint will get storms between 5 p. m. and 7 p. m. , followed by the southern cities after dark. Rain amounts could reach up to two inches in the strongest storms. After Friday’s showers clear by Saturday morning, Michigan should enjoy a dry weekend. Saturday will be cooler than the high 80s seen on Friday, dropping to about 61 degrees in the east—close to normal for this time of year. Sunday is expected to be a pleasant spring day with temperatures in the 60s, while Monday will stay mild and bring warm south‑westerly winds ahead of the next system. The clear spell gives people a chance to enjoy outdoor activities, such as clearing debris left by the recent storms.The next rain system will arrive on Monday night and move through early Tuesday morning. Because it comes after dark, the risk of severe weather is lower than if it had hit in the afternoon. The system will bring rain but should lift by Tuesday morning, after which only scattered showers might linger later in the week. Ahead of this system, southerly winds will build on Monday as a cold front rolls in. A brief cooler period is forecast from April 29 to May 2. An upper‑level low will push north of Michigan, but the models tend to overestimate how long it stays cold. Temperatures could drop into the 50s for a couple of days, which is unusual unless clouds and wind are present. By May 3 the weather will warm again, and by May 6–7 it should feel quite comfortable for spring. The overall pattern shows a high‑pressure ridge moving into the central U. S. , signaling warmer air. Looking ahead to summer, predictions from the Climate Prediction Center suggest that Michigan will not see record‑hot temperatures. Wet soils from spring rains, a strong El Niño and typical El Niño effects all help keep summer temperatures near or slightly below average. While humidity will stay high—making it feel warmer than the actual numbers—the forecast still points to a normal or mildly cooler summer. The long‑term trend shows most of the warming in Michigan occurs in fall and winter, not summer.