MICHIGAN — Parts of southern Michigan are at risk for severe weather Tuesday, including the potential for tornadoes, as storms move into the region later in the day and continue into the evening, according to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center.
The latest Day 1 Convective Outlook places southern portions of the state within a slight risk area for severe thunderstorms, with the greatest threat expected closer to the Michigan-Indiana and Michigan-Ohio borders.
While the highest tornado risk is focused farther west from Iowa into Illinois and Wisconsin, forecasters say Michigan could still see tornado development as storms track east.
The Storm Prediction Center indicates a low to moderate tornado probability across southern Michigan, with a broader 5% risk area extending into the state. Areas including Detroit, Ann Arbor and Jackson are within this zone, where a few tornadoes could occur, particularly with stronger storms.
Meteorologists say storms are expected to develop to the west during the afternoon and move into Michigan by the evening hours. As they arrive, a warm and increasingly unstable air mass combined with strengthening winds aloft could support organized thunderstorms, including supercells.
Damaging wind gusts are expected to be the primary hazard, along with the possibility of large hail. However, any discrete storms that form ahead of a larger storm complex could produce tornadoes.
Residents in southern Michigan are urged to stay weather-aware Tuesday and be prepared to take shelter if warnings are issued, as conditions could change quickly.
