4Warn Weather – The 4Warn Weather Team has declared a 4Warn Weather Alert for Thursday night as a line of potentially severe thunderstorms moves toward Metro Detroit.
The window of concern will be from 9 p.m. Thursday to 2 a.m. Friday, when an organized line of thunderstorms is expected to sweep west to east across Southeast Michigan.
Damaging straight-line winds appear to be the primary threat, but large hail, localized flooding, and an isolated tornado are also possible.
The strongest storms could produce wind gusts around 70 mph if the line remains organized as it crosses Lower Michigan.
Winds of that strength can down trees, damage roofs and siding, knock out power, and make travel hazardous.
The nighttime timing adds another layer of concern.
The line of storms could reach western portions of Southeast Michigan after 9 p.m. at the earliest, then track east through Metro Detroit.
The strongest storms could reach Oakland, Wayne, and Macomb counties between roughly 10 p.m. and midnight, then push toward the Lake Huron shoreline by 1 a.m.
While thunderstorm winds are the primary concern, brief tornadoes can develop quickly within fast-moving thunderstorm lines.
These spin-up tornadoes can form with little warning and can occur even when storms do not appear particularly intense on radar.
Large hail around one inch in diameter is also possible, along with pockets of heavy rainfall that could cause localized flooding in poorly drained areas.
The Storm Prediction Center places Southeast Michigan in a slight to enhanced risk for severe weather.
The corridor with the greatest concern extends from near the Ohio border northward toward the M-59 corridor, especially in communities near and west of US-23.
However, severe weather remains possible across all of Southeast Michigan.
Residents are encouraged to review severe weather safety plans before storms arrive. Consider charging cell phones and identifying a safe shelter location inside the home.
Here is a reminder of the difference between watches and warnings
A severe thunderstorm watch means conditions are favorable for severe storms to develop.
A severe thunderstorm warning means a severe storm is occurring or imminent, and people should move indoors immediately.
Similarly, a tornado watch means conditions are favorable for tornado development, while a tornado warning means a tornado has been detected by radar or reported by trained spotters, and immediate shelter is necessary.
The severe weather threat should end from west to east after 2 a.m. Friday, as a cold front pushes through the state.
Behind the front, cooler and less humid air arrives on Friday.
High temperatures are expected to settle back into the lower 80s with sunshine returning during the afternoon.
Weekend weather
The quieter weather will not last long. Another system is expected to bring showers and thunderstorms late Saturday night into Sunday morning before a stretch of average and cooler-than-average temperatures arrives early next week.
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