Grand Rapids, Michigan – Drivers and evening commuters south of Grand Rapids could face rapidly developing thunderstorms between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. Thursday, with large hail capable of damaging vehicles and wind gusts reaching 60 mph along the I-94 corridor.
According to the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids, the highest risk zone stretches from Kalamazoo to Jackson and areas near the Michigan-Indiana border, where storm intensity is expected to peak before 8 p.m. The agency highlights hail as the primary hazard, with damaging winds possible and a lower tornado risk.
Communities including Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, and Coldwater sit in a higher probability zone for stronger cells. Brief road flooding, reduced visibility under 1 mile, and scattered power outages could develop if storms organize. MDOT warns drivers to prepare for sudden slowdowns on I-94 and US-131, especially during peak travel hours.
North of Grand Rapids, impacts appear more limited, though isolated storms may still develop with lightning and brief downpours.
Residents should secure outdoor items, park vehicles under cover if possible, and avoid non-essential travel during peak storm hours. Charge devices ahead of the evening window in case of outages.
Storm activity is expected to weaken after 8 p.m., but additional updates or warnings could be issued Thursday afternoon as conditions evolve.
