GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. —
WHAT
A low-pressure system approaches from the west Friday morning into the afternoon. This will increase dew points and bring the chance for isolated showers and thunderstorms into the late afternoon to early evening hours on Friday. Whether or not those thunderstorms will have the proper ingredients to become strong to severe for a large portion of West Michigan is still questionable, but isolated severe storms are possible.
The Storm Prediction Center has placed most of West Michigan in the Marginal (1/5) risk category with a Slight (2/5) risk over the southwest part of Lower Michigan.
TIMING
The HRRR weather model shows thunderstorms arriving in West Michigan after 5 pm, lasting into the late-evening hours, with the threat ending around 11 pm.
IMPACTS
The highest risk will be from damaging winds with a lower risk for large hail.
SEVERE WEATHER ALERTS
You should have multiple ways to stay weather aware and receive critical weather information:
1. NOAA Weather Radio
The first is NOAA Weather Radio. We often refer to them as the “smoke detector” for severe weather, because they will automatically sound an alarm in the case of a natural disaster or severe weather.
2. Local Broadcast
There is also always your local TV station. The 13 ON YOUR SIDE Weather Department streams on-air and online during an active storm.
3. Radio Station
Local radio stations should alert you if a storm is in your area. You can even set up devices like Alexa and Google Home to alert you with weather notifications.
4. Smartphone
Your smartphones also offer numerous ways to receive critical weather alerts. We have a 13 ON YOUR SIDE Weather App allowing you to track the storm and receive alerts.
Download our weather app from the App Store for Apple Devices or for your Android device here.
5. Nixle Alerts
- Nixle is a FREE comprehensive warning system designed to rapidly disseminate alerts and public information to various public mechanisms.
- Alerts and emergency information are received via text, email, web, and social media in real-time for localized emergencies relevant to the community.
- To register for NIXLE ALERTS
- Text your Zip Code to 888777
- Sign up and create a user profile at https://local.nixle.com/register/
6. Outdoor Sirens
Outdoor sirens are also an option, as they will go off in the threat of immediate danger, but are only meant to be heard outdoors. So, if you are inside, this should not be how you receive your severe weather alerts. Outdoor sirens can also be unreliable, difficult for those hard of hearing, and go off for other reasons beyond tornadoes.
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