A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for Kent County and much of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Forecasters warn that dangerous storms could produce tornadoes.
According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, nearly all of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula has been placed under a severe thunderstorm watch until Monday night as a volatile weather system tracks northeastward from southern Lake Michigan. The weather predictions have assigned a “slight risk” level for severe weather across western Michigan
This watch area includes all Lower Peninsula counties other than Mason County and Oceana County.
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Tornado threat remains low but possible
The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Grand Rapids said storms moving into southwest Michigan could rapidly strengthen over the next several hours, bringing damaging wind gusts up to 80 mph, hail measuring up to 1.5 inches and the possibility of isolated tornadoes.
Northwest Ingham and eastern Clinton counties are also under a severe thunderstorm warning from the Grand Rapids National Weather Service, which was in force until 3:45 PM EDT.
Radar showed storms traveling east at 40 mph at 3:33 PM EDT along a line from 7 miles north of St. Johns to 6 miles west of Laingsburg to close to East Lansing.
According to the warning, wind gusts of up to 80 mph could cause flying debris, significant damage to mobile homes, roofs, windows, cars, trees, and power outages.
According to Big Rapids News, overall, there is a 15% chance of severe wind, a 5% chance of severe hail, and a 2% chance of tornadoes in the Big Rapids area.
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Power outages and flash flooding concerns
The NWS Grand Rapids office recommended that residents keep mobile devices charged, enable emergency weather alerts and identify the safest location inside their homes in case tornado warnings are issued later tonight.
Previous storms in the region earlier this spring caused widespread outages and flash flooding, including across Kent and Ottawa counties.
According to Reuters, Michigan previously saw nearly 93,000 outages during similar storm systems, which raises the possibility of a similar level of power outage in the area.
