Thunderstorms could pop up across parts of Michigan late Thursday afternoon and overnight into Friday, according to a Hazardous Weather Outlook issued by the National Weather Service office in Grand Rapids today.
While severe weather is not expected, parts of the southwestern Lower Peninsula could see some damaging wind gusts and even hail embedded in these storms.
“Thunderstorms will become possible this afternoon and continue tonight. Some of the storms could become locally strong with hail up to half an inch in diameter, and winds to 50 mph,” the NWS outlook states.
It covers the counties of Mason, Lake, Osceola, Clare, Oceana, Newaygo, Mecosta, Isabella, Muskegon, Montcalm, Gratiot, Ottawa, Kent, Ionia, Clinton, Allegan, Barry, Eaton, Ingham, Van Buren, Kalamazoo, Calhoun and Jackson.
“The best chance for rain will come later this evening and last through Friday morning before starting to push east of the forecast area,” according to the NWS forecast notes. Instability in the atmosphere could lead to stronger thunderstorms, the meteorologists noted.
“A Marginal Risk of severe storms exists late Thursday from roughly 8 p.m. to midnight across parts of West Michigan. Whether severe storms develop depends in large part on how much the atmosphere can destabilize Thursday afternoon.”
A few storms could be possible early Friday, too.