WEST MICHIGAN — As it continues to feel like summer this week with highs in the upper 70s and low to mid 80s and elevated humidity, that sets the stage for strong to severe storms as a cold front moves in Thursday night.
FOX 17 is issuing a Weather Ready Alert for this system.
West Michigan is already highlighted as an area to watch for severe storm potential from the Storm Prediction Center (above). West Michigan is now in a level 3 out of 5 ENHANCED RISK for this evening and early tonight. The timing for severe storms looks to be starting around 9 p.m. and ending around 12 to 1 a.m.
There is confidence that the atmospheric ingredients will come together to produce widespread severe storms with damaging straight line winds as the main threat. While damaging winds are the main hazard, large hail up to golf ball size and a few spin-up tornadoes can't be ruled out.
TIMING
Highs have soared into the low to mid 80s with very humid air in place.
As the cold front gets closer, thunderstorms will move into West Michigan. These could occasionally be on the stronger side, especially from 7 or 8 p.m. onward. Gusty winds and hail are the primary threats with this line, but any storms that form ahead of the line will have enhanced rotation, and an elevated tornado threat.
The gusty line continues racing through West Michigan through the late evening. Hail over 1.75" size hail (golf ball ball size) and a few brief spin-up tornadoes can't be ruled out either. Take a look below at the tornado threat below. The yellow hatched area across our southern counties have a heightened chance of stronger, long-tracked tornadoes.
By midnight to 1 a.m. Friday, the line will be out of West Michigan and our severe weather threat will be over.
Heavy downpours are also expected with any storm, severe or not.
By early Friday morning the front will be east of West Michigan, ending the severe weather threat.
However, a secondary cold front Friday night will bring another chance for strong to severe storms for West Michigan. These storms will most likely contain large hail and damaging wind gusts.
For the latest details on the weather in West Michigan, head to the FOX 17 Weather page.
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