Grand Rapids, Michigan – Strong thunderstorms could disrupt travel and power service across a large stretch of Michigan Tuesday night as a severe thunderstorm watch now covers much of western and central parts of the state until 1 a.m. Wednesday.
According to the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids, Severe Thunderstorm Watch 35 now includes 15 Michigan counties stretching from the Lake Michigan shoreline through the Lansing and Jackson areas. Counties under the watch include Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon, Kalamazoo, Allegan, Barry, Van Buren, and parts of central Michigan including Ingham, Eaton, Clinton, Ionia, Jackson, Gratiot, and Montcalm.
Major population centers in the watch area include Grand Rapids, Lansing, East Lansing, Kalamazoo, Holland, Muskegon, Battle Creek, Jackson, and Greenville. Storms developing across the region may produce damaging wind gusts, large hail, and intense lightning capable of downing tree limbs and briefly knocking out power.
Drivers along Interstate 96, Interstate 94, and Interstate 69 could encounter sudden heavy rain and rapidly reduced visibility as storms track east across the state during the late evening hours.
The watch also extends into nearshore waters of Lake Michigan from St. Joseph north to Whitehall, where boaters could face strong winds and lightning as storms move off the shoreline.
Residents are encouraged to monitor alerts and move indoors when storms approach. The severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 1 a.m. Wednesday, and additional warnings may be issued if storms strengthen overnight.
