Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued for counties along Michigan-Indiana border

WXMI

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued for Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph, Branch, and Hillsdale counties on March 31, 2026.

By: FOX 17 News

11:14 a.m. update

A special weather statement was issued for Mason and Oceana counties. The National Weather Service said penny-sized hail and 40 mile-per-hour winds are possible with a line of thunderstorms rolling off of Lake Michigan.

The special statement is in effect until noon.

A special weather statement has been issued for Ludington MI, Hart MI and Shelby MI until 12:00 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/h3o9lHt4we
— NWS Grand Rapids (@NWSGrandRapids) March 31, 2026

There was also a Special Marine Warning put in effect for several square-nautical miles of Lake Michigan near those counties.

Special Marine Warning including the Lake Michigan from Whitehall to Pentwater MI 5NM offshore to Mid Lake, Lake Michigan from Pentwater to Manistee MI 5NM offshore to Mid Lake, Pentwater to Manistee MI and Whitehall to Pentwater MI until 12:15 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/VwwkddYkGc
— NWS Grand Rapids (@NWSGrandRapids) March 31, 2026

11:04 a.m. Initial Article

The National Weather Service set a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for five counties along the Michigan-Indiana border, including Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph, Branch, and Hillsdale counties. The watch is in effect until 6 p.m. on March 31, 2026.

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio until 6 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/TKaaEIazWg
— NWS Northern Indiana (@NWSIWX) March 31, 2026

A watch means severe weather is possible. A warning means that severe weather is happening, and you need to take action.

A good way to remember the difference is by thinking of cupcakes!

During a "cupcake watch", we have all of the ingredients available to make a cupcake. We have the eggs, the flour, the sugar, and the salt. However, we don't have a cupcake just yet. We need the exact amount of each ingredient to make a cupcake. We're watching to see if the recipe comes together. Watching allows us to be proactive and not surprised if something comes together.

WATCH: Chief Meteorologist Kevin Craig breaks down the Severe Thunderstorm Watch

The FOX 17 Weather Ready Meteorologists declared a Weather Ready Alert for Tuesday, March 31 because of the chance of severe weather. Multiple rounds of rain and thunderstorms are forecasted and some could be strong to severe.

The southern half of the state is in a Slight risk (level 2/5) for severe weather for this afternoon/evening. Hail and damaging winds remain the primary threats with any of these storms that develop. There is a low isolated tornado threat! Some heavy downpours will be possible too.