DETROIT – Metro Detroit is facing a risk of severe storms on Thursday that could bring strong winds, hail, tornadoes, and possible flooding.
---> A warmer Wednesday across Metro Detroit before severe weather threat arrives Thursday
The highest risk currently stretches roughly between I-696 and I-96, south to the state line, classified as Level 2 of 5 (Slight). A Level 1 (Marginal) risk extends northward toward I-69. A line of storms may develop later Thursday, with a sharp temperature drop on Friday.
Everything is on the table Thursday.
Tornado risk
Tornado chances are higher in southern communities, but much of the area could see an isolated strong tornado rated EF-2 or greater. An EF-2 tornado would produce winds of at least 111 mph and could cause significant damage, including torn-off roofs, destroyed mobile homes, and snapped large trees.
Have a tornado plan in place for your family at work, school, and home.
Damaging wind risk
What we are most worried about is the possibility of damaging winds, which could bring down trees and power lines and cause scattered outages -- especially if storms organize into a solid line Thursday evening.
Hail risk
There’s a potential for very large, damaging hail. It would be ideal to park your vehicle inside if you can. Forecasts indicate hail could reach sizes comparable to golf balls or even tennis balls, though large hail is not guaranteed.
Flooding risk
There’s a low-end threat for flash flooding. The threat is lower because we expect isolated downpours, but we don’t anticipate enough widespread rain to raise a significant flash-flooding concern.
Timeline:
- We’ll start to see some showers or a storm or two around 4–5 p.m. Thursday.
- 7 p.m. and onward is the primary window for strong storms.
- By 9–10 p.m., most storms will have moved out of the area.
- Then, temperatures will drop sharply overnight, with highs on Friday only around 40 degrees.
---> Severe weather timeline: Most likely window for strong storms Thursday in Metro Detroit