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Enhanced Risk for severe weather on Thursday

Posted at 8:41 PM, Apr 08, 2015
and last updated 2015-04-08 20:41:58-04

West Michigan – The Storm Prediction Center has upgraded most of West Michigan into an Enhanced Risk of severe weather for  Thursday and Thursday evening.

Surface chart around noon Thursday

Surface chart noon Thursday

The surface map for noon Thursday shows a strong area of low pressure in Iowa. A warm front extends eastward from the low through West Michigan. Warmer air will slide into the state behind the front  for Thursday afternoon with  temperatures along I-94 approaching 70°. The low pressure system is expected to track northeast into the central or northern part of Michigan by late evening. That puts most of West Michigan in a “prime spot” for severe weather including damaging winds, hail and perhaps an isolated tornado.

The two graphics below show one computer model of rain and thunderstorms expected in the morning, and again in the afternoon.

Future Track at 6 AM

Future Track at 6 AM

Future Track at 2 PM

Future Track at 2 PM

Our severe weather threat on Thursday will depend greatly on how much sunshine we see from mid-morning into the afternoon.

We will have the latest on the severe weather threat for West Michigan on Fox 17 Morning News at 5 AM.