Two Storms Merge Over Michigan: Heavy Rain, Gusty Winds Ahead

The picture’s getting clearer for this weekend’s weather, and Michigan’s in for a pretty wild mix. Our forecast models are finally lining up, showing two separate storm systems coming together and merging right over the state. That means we can expect some decent rain, gusty winds, and a big swing in temperatures before it’s all said and done.

READ MORE: Michigan Hayride Turns Deadly 

It all kicks off Friday night as the first line of showers and thunderstorms sweeps across Lower Michigan. It won’t be an all-day washout, everyone will get a few hours of rain here and there, but there’ll still be some breaks in between.

Flint Could See One to Three Inches

Then comes the main system late Saturday night into Sunday morning. That’s when things get really wet. The heaviest rain looks likely from south-central Michigan through the Saginaw Valley, the Thumb, and into northeast Michigan. Flint, Saginaw, Bay City, Midland, Lansing, Jackson, Kalamazoo, and Grand Rapids could all see anywhere from one to three inches of rain.

Warm Saturday, Cool and Breezy Sunday

As the storm deepens, the wind will pick up. Expect gusts between 30 and 40 miles per hour Sunday morning, especially around Ann Arbor, Detroit, Flint, and Saginaw. It’ll be one of those blustery days where the trees sway and you can hear the wind howling through the screen door.

Warm Saturday, Cool and Breezy Sunday

Saturday will actually feel more like summer, with temps climbing close to 80 degrees in Flint before the rain arrives. Sunday cools down fast once the storm moves through.

Get our free mobile app

If you’re hoping for dry weather, your best window is Saturday afternoon — especially in Flint and the rest of southeast Michigan. After that, it’s rain, wind, and a classic Michigan cool-down.