4Warn Weather – After a soaking start to the workweek for parts of Southeast Michigan, additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms could bring more heavy rain through Tuesday.
Some communities south of Interstate 94 picked up 1 to 3 inches of rain Monday morning.
While much of Metro Detroit will get breaks from the rain Monday evening, the atmosphere will remain unsettled enough for additional showers and thunderstorms to develop overnight.
The greatest concern with any storms will be heavy rainfall and localized flooding, particularly in areas that have already received significant rain.
Another round possible overnight
Isolated thunderstorms are possible Monday evening before the better opportunity for rain shifts toward southern parts of Southeast Michigan overnight.
Another cluster of thunderstorms could move from the Upper Midwest into the southern Great Lakes late Monday night into Tuesday morning. The most likely window is roughly midnight through 6 a.m. Tuesday.
The highest rainfall potential appears to be south of I-94 and closer to the Michigan-Ohio state line.
Rainfall rates could locally exceed one inch per hour, and some locations could pick up more than two inches where thunderstorms repeatedly move over the same areas.
That could result in ponding on roads and localized street and low-lying flooding.
Severe weather risk is low, but not zero
A storm or two could become strong to severe overnight, but the overall severe weather risk for Metro Detroit remains low.
An isolated storm could produce wind gusts up to 60 mph or hail around one inch in diameter.
However, widespread severe weather is not expected, and the better environment for stronger storms is expected to remain farther south.
That makes heavy rain the more widespread concern, especially where the ground is already saturated from Monday morning’s rainfall.
Tuesday brings another opportunity for storms
Tuesday may not be completely dry after the morning activity moves through.
Another round of thunderstorms could develop or move into Southeast Michigan during the afternoon and evening, with the most likely window currently from about 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
There is again a low risk that a few storms could become strong to severe south of I-96, with damaging wind gusts, hail and heavy rain possible.
How widespread or intense Tuesday’s storms become will depend partly on how much the atmosphere can recover after any morning thunderstorms.
If morning rain and clouds linger longer, that could limit instability and reduce the afternoon severe weather potential.
Use caution around flooded roads
Even without widespread severe thunderstorms, heavy rainfall can create dangerous conditions quickly.
Drivers should slow down when encountering heavy rain and never attempt to drive through a flooded roadway.
Water can be deeper than it appears, and it can be difficult to tell whether the road underneath has been damaged or washed away.
Pedestrians should also avoid walking through floodwaters.
The unsettled pattern continues Wednesday with another chance for showers and thunderstorms, particularly during the afternoon and early evening.
A quieter stretch is expected Thursday and Friday before rain and thunderstorm chances return for the weekend.
Share your weather photos with Local 4 at MIPics.