Detroit, Michigan – Nearly 5.6 million people from Detroit to Toledo are bracing for severe storms tonight as a thunderstorm watch blankets southeast Michigan and northwest Ohio until midnight.
According to the National Weather Service in Detroit, storms moving through the region could bring isolated hail up to quarter size, wind gusts reaching 65 mph, and frequent lightning through 12 a.m. Friday. The watch zone stretches from Flint, South Lyon, and Port Huron south through Ann Arbor, Monroe, Adrian, Toledo, and Bowling Green—impacting thousands of schools, hospitals, and key highways like I-75 and I-96.
Residents in Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Monroe could see rapid weather changes with scattered power outages possible as trees and lines may come down. Emergency managers advise securing outdoor items, charging devices ahead of possible outages, and staying indoors if thunder roars. Travel may be hazardous along major roads, especially during periods of intense rain and wind.
Tonight’s storm watch comes as one of the summer’s most widespread severe weather threats, reminiscent of last July’s damaging storm outbreak.
The severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 12 a.m. Friday. Stay tuned for updates as further warnings could be issued if storms intensify.
