WEST MICHIGAN (June 29, 2014) — The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has now placed all of West Michigan in a slight risk for severe weather development. While some showers and storms are possible during the day Monday, the best chance for strong to severe storms arrives Monday evening and Monday night as a potent cold front blasts in to the state.
Severe storms here will be dependent on what occurs to our west early in the day, but we are expecting plenty of energy to be built up in the atmosphere from daytime heating. That, coupled with the moisture in the air (humidity) and the much needed trigger mechanism (lift) provided by an arriving cold front. SPC discussions elude to the possibility of an MCS, or mesoscale convective system rolling through the area. Simply put, this is a cluster of strong to severe thunderstorms that can produce strong damaging winds, large hail, frequent lightning, and heavy rain.
SPC discussions further mentioned the possibility of a tornado or two not being ruled out due to adequate shear in the atmosphere. There are two types of shear. One is directional shear from wind coming in from different directions from the ground upward. It produces a turning motion. The other type is speed shear. This is wind coming in at different speeds as you leave the surface. This also can produce a turning motion.
There is no guarantee that severe weather will occur, but there certainly should be a heightened awareness Monday evening and Monday night until the cold front passes. Behind the front we can expect a cooler, drier air mass with more pleasant conditions and no storm threat on Tuesday. Click over to www.fox17online.com/weather for the complete forecast.
