Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Detroit/Pontiac, MI

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939 FXUS63 KDTX 282003 AFDDTX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac MI 403 PM EDT Tue May 28 2024 .KEY MESSAGES...
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- Numerous showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and tonight bring a few strong storms capable of small hail, locally heavy rainfall, and gusty winds. - Dry weather builds in during Wednesday which continues through late week. - Temperatures drop below average throughout the mid week period before warming up again into the weekend.
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&& .DISCUSSION...
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Convection flared up on schedule early in the diurnal heating cycle this afternoon in favored locations off the higher terrain of northern Lower Mi and within the lingering early morning altocu south of I-69. Consolidating and converging outflows favor new development filling in along the M-59 to I-69 corridors while ongoing activity plays out through late afternoon and evening. Mid afternoon hourly mesoanalysis measures 0-1 km MLCAPE below 1000 J/kg which is the more likely convective response due to the uncapped profile vs 1000-1500 J/kg surface based CAPE. At least one report of pea size hail came in from a brief reflectivity hotspot and this will be the primary storm mode through peak instability as freezing level holds at a relatively low 8 kft level. Slow-moving shower and thunderstorm clusters also present a localized heavy rainfall threat as the profile is uncapped and also moisture rich with PW hovering around 1 inch. Predictability on location or duration remain low given the random nature of outflow driven redevelopment expected through the event. The component of surface based convection fades by midnight north of I-69 while transitioning into a band of showers and a rumble of thunder associated with the upstream mid level circulation. The system over the upper Midwest this afternoon dives into IN/OH while keeping showers churned across the southern border region late tonight into Wednesday morning. Upstream satellite presentation this afternoon offers confidence in model strength and track projections as leading deformation matures into the primary source of forcing. The mid level circulation and surface reflection track far enough south of the Michigan border for a setup of the 850-700 mb moisture axis/theta-e ridge along/south of I-96 from which the consensus model QPF axis holds south of I-94, and even south of the Michigan border in many solutions. Some residual showers linger near the southern border through Wednesday morning while clouds hold across the rest of Lower Mi into the afternoon. Today`s models are bullish on a broad region of cool surface high pressure gaining dominance under lingering cyclonic flow aloft. This maintains a greater cloud component until Wednesday night when deep layer subsidence take hold to bring a clearing trend. Below normal temperatures then become the weather focus for the late week period, mainly at night, and despite nearly full sun through Thursday. A few of the more sheltered and typically colder locations could touch 40 for low temperatures Wednesday night into Thursday morning before readings rebound to finish the week.
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&& .MARINE...
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Scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue to develop through the afternoon-evening, particularly along and south of Saginaw Bay. Isolated gusts in these storms may exceed 35 knots alongside frequent lightning, heavy downpours, and small hail as they track southeast across the marine zones. Showers and thunderstorms continue through Wednesday morning before the upper trough axis moves through mid-day. On the broader scale, waves and gusts subside as the pressure gradient relaxes briefly tonight. High pressure then gains influence through the day Wednesday, veering flow to the north with modest increase in winds/waves toward Small Craft Advisory thresholds again by Wednesday morning. Given headline expirations this afternoon will defer additional issuances to the evening update, noting that Small Craft Advisories will likely be needed beginning Wednesday morning for Saginaw Bay and portions of the Lake Huron nearshore. High pressure holds overhead through the rest of the week with quieter conditions anticipated.
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&& .HYDROLOGY...
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Clusters of showers and thunderstorms will be active this afternoon and this evening with locally heavy rainfall. Spotty totals near a half inch are possible while basin average totals remain light to moderate, generally in the one quarter to one third inch range from this afternoon through sunrise Wednesday. Minor flooding in prone areas or ponding of water on roadways can be expected mainly late this afternoon and early this evening.
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&& .PREV DISCUSSION...
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Issued at 200 PM EDT Tue May 28 2024 AVIATION... Diurnally aided scattered to numerous shower with embedded thunderstorms are expected through the afternoon and evening. Coverage is expected to increase through the afternoon, with most favorable timing for any thunderstorm activity expected between 20Z- 01Z. Hi-res guidance highlights KDET and northwest through KMBS as the more favorable locations to see thunderstorms, where the better clearing has been observed. However, all metro terminals will be susceptible to thunderstorms, just with higher confidence favored across the northern airspace. Severe thunderstorms are not expected, but small hail and gusts to 30 knots will be possible with the stronger activity. Coverage will start to wane after sunset with the loss of diurnal heating. For DTW/D21 Convection...There continues to be a chance to see scattered to numerous thunderstorms this afternoon and evening, favored between the hours of 20Z to 01Z. The better coverage is expected just north and east of the terminal, especially up towards KPTK, but thunderstorms may develop in the vicinity of or over KDTW. A VCTS group has been introduced given the increasing confidence, and a short-fused amendment may be needed if observations/satellite support a southern shift in projected thunderstorm development. DTW THRESHOLD PROBABILITIES... * Moderate in ceilings aob 5000 feet through tonight. * Low for thunder this afternoon between 20-01Z.
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&& .DTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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MI...None. Lake Huron...None. Lake St Clair...None. Michigan waters of Lake Erie...None.
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&& $$ DISCUSSION...BT MARINE.......MV HYDROLOGY....BT AVIATION.....AM You can obtain your latest National Weather Service forecasts online at www.weather.gov/detroit.