MICHIGAN — Michigan is facing the threat of severe thunderstorms Wednesday as forecasters warn that storms moving into the state could bring destructive winds, large hail and a few tornadoes.
The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center has placed much of the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Michigan under an Enhanced Risk for severe weather, while other parts of the state are included in a Slight Risk.
Forecasters say thunderstorms developing across the Upper Midwest are expected to spread east-northeast into Michigan later Wednesday and Wednesday night. As the storms move into a warm, unstable air mass, they could strengthen and become capable of producing widespread severe weather.
The primary threat is damaging straight-line winds, with some gusts potentially reaching 80 mph. Large to very large hail is also possible, along with a few tornadoes.
The Storm Prediction Center said scattered severe thunderstorms are expected across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes through Wednesday and Wednesday night, with damaging winds posing the greatest hazard.
Michigan residents, particularly those in the Upper Peninsula and northern portions of the Lower Peninsula, are encouraged to monitor forecasts throughout the day and have multiple ways to receive weather warnings as conditions can change rapidly.
