Detroit Tigers Opening Day forecast: cold, but no snow

Bring your blankets, coats, hand warmers, and earmuffs. It's going to be cold Thursday as Tiger baseball returns to Detroit.

Just as it is every single year on Opening Day, all eyes are on the forecast.  The chance for rain remains but I'm hopeful it'll hold off until late in the game, or even better, AFTER the game.

We all know Opening Day is one big party downtown. If you plan on getting there early, dress warmly because it will be chilly!  

Temperatures around 7AM will be near 35 degrees, and although the wind will have died down, it will still be cool. In fact, "cool" is the name of the game for the entire day: high temperatures only get to about 43 degrees.

As far as rain goes, there is a chance for some light showers in the morning and into the early afternoon. Most models project it at 20-30%.  

It appears that the atmosphere is setting up in such a way that southwest Michigan will catch the rain early, while most of southeast Michigan remain dry. 

This all changes throughout the day, notably after 3PM, as the rain pushes east and begins to fall around Downtown Detroit, including Comerica Park.  

Therefore, I would bring rain gear to the game, with the anticipation of needing it in the later innings and for the walk back to the car.

Higher chances for rain will then spread across Michigan Thursday evening and overnight.

But there's some good news. While yes it's going to be cold and a touch rainy - it wont' snow on Opening Day! Back in 2000, when Comerica Park opened, the groundscrew had to clear snow off the field the night before and then it snowed again throughout the game.

Then in 2002, the Tigers lost 10-1 on Opening Day - and it snowed then too.

So...it could always be worse?

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