4Warn Weather – On this Wednesday, Southeast Michigan is looking at the potential for flooding, damaging winds, hail and even strong tornadoes.
All of these threats are not guaranteed, as the timing of the first round of weather late this morning will highly dictate how the secondary round develops later today, when a cold front pushes through.
Highs today will be in the low 70s. With a greater amount of moisture in our atmosphere and warm temperatures, we will have unstable conditions conducive to strong storms ahead of a clashing cold front.
The Storm Prediction Center has placed the majority of our region under an Enhanced Risk for severe thunderstorms today, which is the highest threat level we have seen so far this season.
They have also included all of Southeastern Michigan under a higher-than-normal threat for strong tornadoes (EF-2 or greater, which would have wind speeds of over 110 mph) and significant hail greater than 2 inches in diameter (golf ball size or bigger).
There is still a little uncertainty as to how widespread the severe threat will be.
Here is the timeline for Wednesday’s storms:
- 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.: The first round of weather rolls in. This is when we have the strongest potential for severe storms.
- 5 p.m.-8 p.m.: Cold front pushes through. The latest data now has this line of storms less organized, given the greater potential for stronger storms earlier in the day.
The threat will diminish after 8 p.m.
Those threats include:
- With that first round of weather, instability might struggle to develop early -- however, there still could be enough ingredients for tornadoes to form. The greatest tornado threat will be along and south of a line from Lansing to Port Sanilac.
- Clusters of storms will likely produce damaging winds and large hail.
Read: Where you should go, what you need to know during a tornado warning in SE Michigan
Sunny Thursday to follow
Clearing skies overnight will tee us up for sunshine on Opening Day in Detroit.
Thursday will be cooler and breezy. Seasonal highs will reach the low-to-mid 50s. Wind gusts will reach upward of 25 mph.
We’ll stay in the 50s with sunshine through Saturday.
Easter Sunday is looking spectacular with sunshine and highs in the 60s.
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