As Michiganders, we should be used to this: Spring forecasts can have some weird weather combinations. Tuesday will be no exception, as parts of Michigan could see thunderstorms switching to snow as temperatures tumble Tuesday night. And there could be a little hail tossed in there, too.
The culprit behind this fast switch is a cold front that is moving into the area on Tuesday, bringing a chance of rain for most of Michigan. While really severe weather is not expected, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Grand Rapids said the most active weather pattern could happen between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m.
During that time, damaging winds are possible. So is half-inch to one-inch hail. In the Lower Peninsula, the northern half - in a line from Fremont to Alma east to The Thumb and northward - has an elevated risk compared to the southern half.
Winds and hail are in the forecast for Tuesday, April 22. Image provided by the National Weather Service.NWS
The NWS office in Gaylord describes Tuesday’s potential active weather pattern this way: “Chances for rain move in tonight as a cold front approaches from the west. Isolated chances for thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon and evening could lead to brief moderate to heavy rainfall, lightning, and gusty winds at times. Precipitation will eventually change to light snow as winds turn northwest and sub freezing temperatures move in. Cold temperatures overnight into early Wednesday morning.”
Low temperatures across the Upper Peninsula could fall to 15 degrees Tuesday night into Wednesday, with clear skies making the air feel even colder.
“The next system brings rain showers later tonight ahead of a strong cold front on Tuesday that sends temperatures tumbling and changes lingering rain showers over to snow,” the NWS office in Marquette said. “Expect breezy northerly winds Tuesday. Overnight lows on Tuesday night are expected to range from the teens to twenties under mostly clear skies. Another cool day is in store for Wednesday under sunny skies.”