Storms Still in the Detroit Forecast? When to Expect Severe Weather

DETROIT, MI – Severe thunderstorms are a possibility late Thursday afternoon and evening as a cold front moves through the region, the National Weather Service said in a hazardous weather outlook statement.

Affected areas include Oakland, Wayne, Macomb, Livingston, Genesee and Washtenaw counties.

Residents should be prepared for damaging winds and hail if the storms do develop, though that’s not a certainty. An isolated tornado is also possible, especially for areas close to the Ohio border.

Live radar from WDIV-TV shows a line line of thunderstorms headed toward the metro from northwest Indiana.

Paul Gross, a meteorologist for the TV station, said the storms could reach southeast Michigan from 5 to 9 p.m. The severity of the storms will depend on whether sunshine peeks through the cloud cover.

Friday will be cool, with a high near 50, and cloudy skies, but there’s a 30 percent chance of rain and snow showers overnight Friday, and a 60 percent chance of rain and snow on Saturday, according to the Weather Service.

The Weather Service also said another strong low pressure system has the potential to bring strong storms to the area on Saturday.