Rain returns to West Michigan Wednesday evening

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Following a few months with drier than average conditions, Grand Rapids is making some strides at reducing the current rainfall deficit with a relatively soggy start to the month of November.

The annual precipitation deficit, as of Wednesday, is near 3 inches.

There are encouraging signs that we'll continue to make up ground on our precipitation shortfall in the days ahead.

WHEN WILL IT RAIN?

Showers are expected to move into West Michigan from southwest to northeast, starting shortly after sunset on Wednesday.

The heaviest and most widespread rain will likely occur during the overnight period into the morning hours of Thursday.

A chance of rain will continue into Thursday afternoon, but showers will become more scattered and sporadic as the day goes on.

A solid soaking is expected out of this batch of showers, with models coming into consensus on near a half-inch on the lower end of outcomes to almost 1 inch in some solutions.

There's a pretty even distribution of rain across our area with this system, but the heaviest totals have been favored along and west of US-131 closer toward the lakeshore.

Things will likely dry out for Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, there may be a few showers, but accumulations will be negligible.

A pretty large pattern shift looks to unfold during the second half of next week with colder air and rain — perhaps even a chance for snow — but the finer details are still being worked out as that comes into clearer focus.

Stay with Storm Team 8 as we bring you further updates.