GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan — Summer-like temperatures continue, but the focus of the forecast revolves around the possibility of severe thunderstorms Monday through the overnight hours Tuesday.
WHAT
Two rounds of severe weather are possible. The first round is from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday and the second round is 10 p.m. Tuesday to 3 a.m. Wednesday.
For Monday, the Storm Prediction Center has placed West Michigan under a level 1/5 risk, meaning severe weather is expected to remain isolated in coverage. While it's a low-level threat, all modes of severe weather—wind, hail and a brief tornado—are possible, with gusty to damaging wind the greatest risk.
Tuesday's opportunity of thunderstorms present the greater severe risk. The Storm Prediction Center has placed West Michigan under a level 2/5 risk for severe weather late Tuesday evening into early Wednesday morning.
TIMING
Monday
A brief round of storms will be possible from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. north of I-96 today. This round of storms may contain frequent thunder and lightning but does not look to contain severe weather.
It’ll be warm and noticeably more humid as temperatures soar into the 80s and dew point values climb above 60 (which is muggy for West Michigan standards) throughout Monday.
This combination will create an unstable airmass across the Great Lakes, allowing the potential for additional thunderstorms to develop during the afternoon and evening hours, including the marginal risk of severe thunderstorms. Focus is currently between 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., with thunderstorms moving in a line from west to east across the Lower Peninsula.
Tuesday
Conditions remain warm and humid into Tuesday, keeping the summer-like feel around. A large majority of Tuesday looks to be dry. The focus comes in the way of an approaching cold front late in the day, which heightens the opportunity of stronger to severe thunderstorms.
It's not until after sunset that storms work across Lake Michigan and they will continue to 3 a.m. to 4 a.m. Wednesday. The further we get into the overnight hours, the weaker the storms will become as instability wanes.
IMPACTS
All modes of severe weather are possible today and tomorrow. Damaging winds look to be the strongest threat, but hail and a spin-up tornado can't be ruled out either day.
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.
Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now. When you open the app, you can enable your location to be sent active alerts in your area.
You can see the latest severe weather alerts here.
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.
TEXT US
TEXT your weather photos to us at 616-559-1310.
Please include the following with your photo(s):
- Your storm photos
- Your first and last name
- Date and time of your photos
- Locations of your photos
- What’s in your photos?
You can upload videos to YouTube and send the links to us, send them to us over Facebook Messenger, and short videos can be sent via email to wxwatcher@13OnYourSide.com
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