Update (5:30 p.m.): A severe thunderstorm watch for the region, originally set to expire at 7 p.m. Wednesday, was canceled late Wednesday afternoon.
Update (2:40 p.m.): A tornado warning for parts of the Lansing area has expired, with no reports of funnel clouds or serious damage. Brief, heavy rain was reported in some areas. Ingham County Emergency Management said there were many reports of hail but none involving damage.
Update (1:45 p.m.): A tornado warning has been issued for the Lansing area until 2:30 p.m.
A storm cell with radar-indicated rotation was seen between Dimondale and Eaton Rapids, moving northeast toward Holt and East Lansing, according to the National Weather Service.
The storm was moving at 35 mph. A tornado and ping pong-sized hail were possible, and flying debris could be dangerous to anyone caught without shelter, forecasters said.
Original story:
LANSING — The Lansing area is likely to see severe thunderstorms early this afternoon with the potential for high winds, hail and maybe even an isolated tornado.
The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids said a low pressure system and strong cold front moving in from the west, combined with mild temperatures today over mid-Michigan will lead to a broken line of storms moving quickly through the state today.
A severe thunderstorm watch was in effect in central, south-central and southwest Michigan until 7 p.m. Wednesday.
NWS meteorologist Janis Laurens said forecasts predict storms that have formed in the Chicago and Milwaukee areas moving across Lake Michigan and then strengthening as they reach the Lansing area, likely around 2 p.m. or 3 p.m.
Laurens said the storms will bring strong wind gusts — reaching 65 to 70 mph — as well as hail. Isolated tornadoes also are possible.
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“Any time you have temperatures as mild and a low pressure and cold front from the west it sets the stage for severe weather,” Laurens said.
While the storms will bring heavy rain, Laurens said they will move through quickly so flooding shouldn’t be an issue.
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