Thursday is the warmest day of the week, and it comes with a 4Warn Weather Alert due to severe storm potential that could develop this afternoon and taper off in the evening hours.
Latest forecast --> Surge of warmth comes with severe weather threat across Metro Detroit
What is a 4Warn Weather Alert?
We issue a 4Warn Weather Alert when we’re expecting weather conditions that will be inconvenient to our viewers.
Why did we issue a 4Warn Weather Alert for today?
Showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop Thursday afternoon and evening.
Where
The slight risk (Level 2/5) of severe storms is now pushed a little farther south, along and south of the I-94 corridor, with all hazards (wind, hail, and tornadoes) possible. A marginal risk (Level 1/5) north of that corridor.
Hazards
- Damaging winds (65+ mph)
- Large hail (2″+)
- An isolated strong tornado
Timing
The severe window is mainly between 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. Severe chances quickly taper off north of I-94, but there could be a marginal severe threat as far north of M-59, but most likely just hail.
Large hail risk
One of the other primary risks Thursday is the potential for large, damaging hail.
Everyone in Southeast Michigan has a significant hail risk, which comes with a chance of large hail.
We could see hail that reaches the size of golf balls or tennis balls. That’s not a guarantee, but the atmospheric conditions are there for that potential.
What happens is super cooled water droplets go up in the clouds and then bounce up and down and become frozen. The longer they stay in the cloud, the bigger they get, until the updraft weakens and they fall.
Hail is expected to develop in pockets around Southeast Michigan, so not everybody will see large hail. But there could be some storms that develop in spots and create it.
The wind threat is more downstream of here, so our area gets more of the hail threat, while Ohio gets more of the wind threat.
If you can park your car inside or under a carport, that would be best for Thursday.
Strong wind risk
There’s a risk for strong winds beyond tornadoes, but hail and tornadoes appear to be the more significant threats on Thursday. That’s because of the significance of the possible threats, not necessarily that they will be widespread.
Isolated tornado risk
Southeast Michigan has a risk for tornadoes, so have a plan in place for your family at work, school, and home.
A line of strong and severe storms develops later in the day as a sharp decline in temperatures looms tomorrow. An isolated strong tornado cannot be ruled out.