Southeast Michigan at Risk of Severe Storms on Thursday

Flood watch remains in effect as region braces for more heavy rain and potential thunderstorms

Apr. 16, 2026 at 3:57am

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A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones of grey, blue, and green, depicting a vast, stormy sky with dark, ominous clouds hovering over a flat, flooded plain, conveying the overwhelming power of nature.A looming storm system threatens to unleash more heavy rain and potential flooding across the already saturated landscape of Southeast Michigan.Today in Detroit

Following a week of heavy rain and overnight severe weather, a flood watch remains in effect for all of Metro Detroit through late Thursday night. Alongside the ongoing threat of rising waters, an isolated risk for severe thunderstorms exists on Thursday as this stubborn weather pattern continues. While widespread severe weather is not anticipated, the atmosphere remains conducive to strong pop-up storms, with damaging winds and flooding remaining the primary concerns.

Why it matters

The Southeast Michigan region has already been soaked with 1.5 to 4.5 inches of rain over the past week and a half, leaving the ground thoroughly saturated. With an additional 1 to 2 inches of rainfall expected through Thursday night, the local soil simply cannot absorb much more water, increasing the risk of flooding. The severe storm threat also poses a danger to residents and property in the area.

The details

Most of Southeast Michigan has already been soaked with 1.5 to 4.5 inches of rain over the past week and a half. With the ground thoroughly saturated before the complete spring "green-up," the local soil simply cannot absorb much more water. We expect an additional 1 to 2 inches of rainfall through Thursday night. However, if thunderstorms stall or "train" over the same locations, localized amounts could receive more. While widespread severe weather is not anticipated, the atmosphere remains conducive to strong pop-up storms. We once again have a risk for storms on Thursday, primarily in the afternoon hours. Temperatures will remain unseasonably mild, topping out in the lower 70s, which will help fuel storms. Damaging winds and flooding remain the primary concerns for any storms that can form on Thursday.

  • A flood watch remains in effect for all of Metro Detroit through late Thursday night.
  • An additional 1 to 2 inches of rainfall is expected through Thursday night.

The players

Southeast Michigan

The region in Michigan that includes the Detroit metropolitan area and surrounding counties.

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What’s next

The silver lining is that a much-needed dry spell is on the horizon. A strong cold front will finally sweep the weather out of the region by late Thursday night. Conditions will dry out completely on Friday ahead of one final storm chance on Saturday.

The takeaway

The Southeast Michigan region has been dealing with a prolonged period of heavy rainfall, leading to saturated soil and an increased risk of flooding. The potential for severe thunderstorms on Thursday adds to the ongoing weather concerns, with damaging winds and flooding being the primary threats. While the forecast calls for a dry spell starting on Friday, residents should remain vigilant and prepared for the possibility of more severe weather in the coming days.