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Tuesday Storms Could Pack A Punch

Posted at 9:34 PM, Jun 23, 2013
and last updated 2013-06-23 21:34:51-04

WEST MICHIGAN – The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma has placed all of Upper and Lower Michigan in a slight risk for severe weather development from Tuesday morning through Wednesday morning. See the attached snapshot for specific coverage across the Midwest.

The primary threats, if we see them, would be large hail and strong damaging winds. Remember, a severe thunderstorm warning is issued when the potential for hail size is one inch or greater, and/or winds of 58 mph or greater are possible. The old scale use to be three-quarter inch hail, but was recently updated to one inch in hopes of cutting down on extensive warnings being issued for borderline size hail. The one inch criteria is expected to filter out several warnings from being issued while at the same time still maintaining the integrity of the warning.

West Michigan actually recorded the hottest day, thus far, of the season on Sunday. Grand Rapids reached 89 degrees, Lansing 88, Muskegon 84, Holland 88, Kalamazoo and Battle Creek at 90, and most other locations in the upper 80s. You’d have to go back to May 20, 2013 in Grand Rapids to find a comparable day at 88 degrees, but even then we didn’t have the moisture in the air and sticky conditions we have now.

The warm, muggy air mass will continue to hang in most of this week with a few showers and thunderstorms possible from day to day. Right now, the best chance of storms seems to be Monday night in to the first part of Tuesday, and again Wednesday P.M. in to Thursday morning. Get the complete West Michigan forecast at www.fox17online.com/weather.