MICHIGAN — Parts of Michigan face a risk of tornadoes Thursday as a widespread severe weather outbreak develops across the Midwest and Great Lakes region, according to the National Weather Service‘s Storm Prediction Center.
The Storm Prediction Center has included much of Lower Michigan in a severe weather risk area, with portions of western and southern Michigan under a 5% tornado risk and areas farther south and west included in a higher 10% tornado risk zone. Cities such as Grand Rapids, Lansing, Flint and Detroit are among the population centers included in the broader tornado outlook.
Forecasters warn that severe thunderstorms are expected to develop and move across the region throughout the day and into the evening. In addition to tornadoes, storms could produce widespread damaging wind gusts and large hail.
The Storm Prediction Center said an organized cluster of severe storms is expected to move eastward from Iowa and Illinois into the Great Lakes. As those storms approach Michigan later in the day, atmospheric conditions may become favorable for tornado development, especially as the low-level jet strengthens during the evening hours.
While the greatest tornado threat remains centered on eastern Iowa and northern Illinois, forecasters said severe storms are expected to continue eastward across Illinois, Indiana and Lower Michigan, carrying a continued risk of tornadoes and damaging winds.
Residents are encouraged to closely monitor forecasts and warnings throughout the day, have multiple ways to receive weather alerts and be prepared to seek shelter immediately if tornado warnings are issued.
