The National Weather Service has issued a severe weather warning for central and southern Michigan, as the risk for dangerous weather conditions has increased in the region. According to forecast details provided by the NWS, the highest threats are expected during the afternoon and early evening hours on Tuesday, March 26.

The main concerns associated with this potential severe weather include damaging wind gusts of up to 60 mph, lightning strikes, power outages, and the possibility of a weak, isolated tornado. The severity of the weather chances has been upgraded from marginal to slight, particularly in the area marked in yellow on the provided map. This area encompasses cities such as Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Jackson, Alma, and Coldwater.

The western side of this region faces the highest risk of severe weather between 1 and 7 p.m., while the southeastern side will be most affected between 4 and 11 p.m. as the storm system moves eastward and out of Michigan.

Meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids have stated that scattered thunderstorms are expected to sweep across lower Michigan during the afternoon hours. Some of these storms have the potential to become severe, with damaging winds and lightning being the primary hazards. Although the chances are low, there is also a slight possibility of a brief tornado. The area most at risk is located south of M-46 between U.S. 131 and U.S. 23.

Residents are urged to stay weather aware and keep updated with the latest information throughout the day. Precautionary measures should be taken to ensure safety during the potential severe weather conditions.

Once the storm system passes tonight, cooler weather will prevail in the coming days, bringing a change in temperatures for the affected region.