Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Detroit/Pontiac, MI

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956
FXUS63 KDTX 210700
AFDDTX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac MI
300 AM EDT Fri Jun 21 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Marginal risk of severe thunderstorms this afternoon and late
  Saturday afternoon/evening, with damaging winds being the main
  hazard.

- Hot and humid through Saturday. High temperatures 85-90 today and
  90-95 on Saturday, as heat indices peak out just under 100 degrees
  for Saturday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Moist airmass in place, as the 00z DTX raob indicated a PW value of
1.78 inches with a 700 MB dew pt of 5 C. Similar moisture profiles to
hold through the day.

Last vestiges some shortwave energy/PV tracking through southeast
Michigan this morning (slight-low chance pops), with negative upper
level PV advection in the 18-00z window. Despite the unfavorable
environment/general subsidence late this afternoon, ill defined
leftover frontal boundary and diurnal instability (MLcapes of 1500
J/kg) still will likely prove worthy to fire up convection (bulk of
CAM solutions), but limited coverage (25-40%) expected. The normally
bullish NAM is actually indicating instability parameters a bit
lower compared to the past couple of days, but still potential for
isolated downburst damaging wind gusts, despite little in the way of
0-6 MB bulk shear (under 25 knots for majority of the CWA). Locations
south of I-69 stand the best chance with the greater cape build-up
south of the front. 850 MB temps of 17-19 C suggest airmass potential
in the upper 80s to lower 90s. But assuming clouds and scattered
convection develops, likely looking at temps in the 85-90 degree
range, in line with inherited forecast.

Warm (10+ C at 700 MB) and dry mid level dry slot pushes into
southern Lower Michigan this evening/around midnight, and hangs
around through a good portion of Saturday, likely capping activity
(south of I-69) and allowing for a warm and humid day with deep
southwest flow ahead of an approaching cold front. High temperatures
in the 90-95 degree range appear likely as 850 MB temps reach aoa 20
C, but mainly sub 70 degree dew pts expected to keep heat indices
just under 100 degrees.

Good 500 MB height falls (for summer standards) arrive around 00z
Sunday, which will weaken the cap and and potentially allow storms
to spread in late in the day or during Saturday evening. Increasing
0-6 KM bulk shear, reaching 30-40 knots by day`s end will bring the
potential of isolated severe storms with MLcapes at least around
1000 J/kg. SPC day 2 outlook puts southeast Michigan in marginal
risk. It should be pointed out, several model solutions (NAM/RAP)
suggest shower and thunderstorm activity holds off mostly until
Saturday night, which limits severe potential with leftover MUcapes
mainly under 1000 J/kg. Despite the unfavorable timing, the large
scale forcing is expected to support a broken to solid line of
showers and thunderstorms.

Modest cold advection to follow for Sunday, with 850 MB temps now
only progged to lower into the lower teens by Monday morning per 00z
Euro (vs 10 C indicated by 12z Euro). None-the-less, the 500 MB
trough axis swinging through the Central Great Lakes may still touch
off a few showers over the Thumb region as 500 MB cold pool (-15 C)
tracks through Lake Huron.

&&

.MARINE...

High pressures to the north and south of the Great Lakes result in
weak northerly flow across much of the region today. There remains a
weak stalled boundary across the southern Lakes which may try to be
a focus for strong storms once again today. Additional storms look
to track out of WI and across Mid MI into Lake Huron later today.
Mild air remains across the region resulting in stable conditions
across the waters minimizing wave heights into the weekend. Though
winds should remain generally light and out of the north, any
location in the vicinity of a stronger storm will have higher gusts
potential with it.  A more organized low pressure system will pass
through the northern Lakes Saturday night pulling a cold front
through the region on Sunday likely resulting in more widespread
convection and wind speeds then could reach or exceed 25 knots with
waves building to around 4 feet. Small craft advisories may be
needed.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...

A moist and moderately unstable airmass holds in place today.
Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop once
again, capable of producing highly localized rainfall amounts in
excess of 2 inches in less than 3 hours due to the slow movement.
This amount of rain would result in urban/low lying flooding.

The daytime hours of Saturday look to be mostly dry before a line of
showers and thunderstorms track through southeast Michigan Saturday
evening/night. This activity will have potential to produce half an
inch to one inch of rain, especially if activity arrives in the
evening. Stronger thunderstorms will bring the potential for locally
higher amounts.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1155 PM EDT Thu Jun 20 2024

AVIATION...

Convective potential remains minimal overnight as greater nocturnal
stability maintains control. Very moist near surface conditions and
limited wind will provide favorable conditions for some shallow
fog/haze development during the pre-dawn hours. The underlying moist
and unstable environment will again bring potential for diurnal
convective development Friday afternoon and evening. Similar to
recent days, overall coverage and placement of possible development
remains quite ill-defined at this stage.

For DTW/D21 Convection...The overall environment will again be
favorable for some degree of thunderstorm development Friday
afternoon and evening, but with usual uncertainty at this stage on
timing and coverage.

DTW THRESHOLD PROBABILITIES...

* Low in thunderstorms impacting the airspace Friday afternoon and
  evening.


&&

.DTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MI...None.
Lake Huron...None.
Lake St Clair...None.
Michigan waters of Lake Erie...None.
&&

$$

DISCUSSION...SF
MARINE.......DK
HYDROLOGY....SF
AVIATION.....MR


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at www.weather.gov/detroit.