Forecast: Some needed rain on the way to metro Detroit

Get ready for ugly week of weather

DETROIT – It's hard to believe after the winter we just came out of that we actually need some rain!

Through today, we're about an inch below average for this month and, if you've been out doing some yard work recently, you probably noticed that things are getting a little dry. Mother Nature is going to make a dent in that deficit over the next week.

Mostly clear early tonight, then partly cloudy later. In fact, we may even become mostly cloudy by dawn. Lows in the upper 20s to mid 30s. Cooler temps tonight will be to the north and east, where you'll keep the clear skies the longest. Those clear skies, combined with the light wind we'll have, will allow temps to drop longer into the night than farther south and west, where clouds will come in earlier and level off the temperature.

Follow me on Twitter: @PaulGrossLocal4

Thursday forecast:

Mostly cloudy Thursday morning, but perhaps a bit more sun developing by mid afternoon. As long as we get that sun, temps should rise into the mid-to-upper 50s. Southeast wind at 8 to 12 mph. Rain develops Thursday night -- probably after 2 a.m. Lows in the mid 40s.

Friday forecast:

Rain ends Friday morning, then becoming mostly sunny and windy. Highs ranging from low 60s north, to mid-to-upper 60s south. Breezy Friday night with a possible shower. Lows in the upper 30s.

Weekend forecast:

Partly cloudy both Saturday and Sunday, with highs in the mid 50s.

Looking ahead:

Partly to mostly cloudy and becoming breezy on Monday, with the chance for some showers. Timing and coverage of Monday's showers are highly uncertain at this time, but what I CAN tell you is that this is the start of a cool, raw stretch of weather for us that potentially (if you believe the ECMWF model) could last all the way into the weekend.

Highs Monday in the low 50s in the warmest spots...upper 40s for the rest of us…then look for chances of rain on Tuesday, on Wednesday, and possibly through the end of the week, with highs generally in the upper 40s.