Updated 5:08 p.m. June 18: A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for eastern Ingham County until 5:45 p.m. June 18. The National Weather Service said a severe thunderstorm was detected about 5 p.m. near Williamston,or about 8 miles east of Mason, moving northeast at 30 mph.
Updated 4:30 p.m. June 18: A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for the Lansing area until 10 p.m. June 18. The alert includes Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Ingham and Jackson counties.LANSING — Strong storms were moving into southern lower Michigan on the afternoon of June 18, and forecasters said they could extend as far north as Lansing.
The National Weather Service warned that storms moving from the southwest to the northeast could pack winds gusts of up to 60 mph and large hail, along with rain and lightning. Tornadoes are possible, as well. Storms could start developing in south-central Michigan by around 4 p.m.
The chances for severe weather were believed to be greatest to the south, including the Kalamazoo, Battle Creek and Jackson areas, but they could move as far north as Lansing. said Ernie Ostuno, a forecaster for the weather service in Grand Rapids.
Impacts in the Lansing region were most likely to come after 5 p.m., he said.
If they are doing things outside, people should have a way to get weather warnings and keep an eye out for dark storm clouds off in the distance, Ostuno said.
“You definitely want to get to a sturdy structure or shelter,” he said. “The safest thing you can do is get away from trees that could come down on top of you. And if there’s lightning, don’t be outside. The greatest danger from lightning is when you are outside.”
The highest likelhood for severe weather on June 18 was along the Interstate 94 corridor and potentially up to the Interstate 96 corridor, forecasters said. There was a decent chance of rain on June 19.
After that, it will be very warm, with highs reaching into the 90s on Saturday and Sunday, the weather service said.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Storms packing high winds, hail expected to impact Lansing and areas to the south
Reporting by Ken Palmer, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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