Large hail, brief severe wind gusts possible with today’s Michigan thunderstorms

A zone of thunderstorms will likely move southeast across Lower Michigan this afternoon and evening. Conditions are such that some of these thunderstorms could produce brief severe weather.

This shouldn’t be a widespread strong severe weather outbreak. This will be what we call pulse severe thunderstorms. They have a life cycle of an hour or two. At the peak strength the thunderstorms can easily produce large hail and a few minutes of strong wind gusts.

Here’s the radar forecast showing the thunderstorms developing this afternoon. The modeling hasn’t been really accurate so far today. Don’t take the storm placement forecast as being exact. Use this radar forecast to know there will be areas of small, potent thunderstorms.

The Storm Prediction Center has outlined an area that could have large hail and damaging winds. I don’t really agree with the placement of the severe weather risk. The entire Detroit area, Ann Arbor area, Flint and Saginaw could also be in the area of storms.

Severe wind gusts around 60 mph are possible in these afternoon and evening thunderstorms.

With the cold air aloft of early spring, one inch diameter hail is possible. That is hail large enough to damage your car. Be aware of hail by looking at radars. If you see purple or white on the radar there is hail falling.

Here’s the always updated radar. Check back here this afternoon to watch thunderstorms probably develop.

Get set for the weather conditions to change quickly on you this afternoon and evening. The strongest storms will occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. today.