DETROIT (WWJ) — While the area prepares for thunderstorms and the possibility of tornadoes late Tuesday night into Wednesday, Southeast Michigan is seeing some record-breaking temperatures on Tuesday afternoon.
Detroit’s previous record high of 63 degrees on Feb. 27 was shattered. In fact, with a 2 p.m. temperature of 72 degrees, we broke the city’s all-time record for the month of February of 70, set on Feb. 11, 1999 and Feb. 24, 2017, according to the National Weather Service.
With temps of 72 degrees at 2 p.m., Flint and Saginaw also broke all-time February highs of 68 (1999) and 67 (1930), respectively, according to the NWS.
While many are enjoying the unseasonably warm weather, don’t expect it to last too long.
AccuWeather meteorologists are expecting “weather whiplash” in the area, with temperatures forecasted to plummet nearly 50 degrees in a 24-hour span.
Overnight lows on Wednesday are expected to dip to around 24 degrees after a cold front moves into the area, bringing along with it the threat of thunderstorms and potential tornadoes Tuesday night into Wednesday.
"Tracking some heavier thunderstorms into this evening and these mean business, with flash flooding, damaging winds and hail — even an isolated tornado can't be ruled out here in Metro Detroit and actually across much of lower Michigan,” AccuWeather meteorologist Matt Benz said Tuesday morning on WWJ.
The severe weather threat will blow in at 45 mph between 8 p.m. Tuesday through 4 a.m. Wednesday, according to the NWS.
A Wind Advisory is in effect until 7 p.m. Wednesday for several counties, including Oakland, Wayne, Macomb, Washtenaw, Monroe and Livingston.
While AccuWeather predicts large hail up to an inch in diameter, the NWS said 2" hail is also possible.
Localized damaging wind gusts could reach between 55 and 65 mph, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 80 mph, which is 5 mph above hurricane force.
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