Follow the severe storms tonight as they hit Michigan

A line of severe storms is expected to impact the southern part of Lower Michigan overnight. Currently located in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois, this storm system is expected to bring dangerous wind gusts of up to 90 mph and the possibility of embedded tornadoes.

The storms are expected to reach Michigan later this evening and move through the lower part of the state during the overnight hours.

Another band of storms is already moving across the Upper Peninsula.

“A line of storms is expected to arrive at the lakeshore around 11 p.m. and move quickly eastward. Damaging winds and heavy precipitation are the main concerns, but isolated tornadoes are possible in southern areas. The storms will exit the area around 3 a.m.,” said meteorologists with the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids.

You can track the approach of these storms by watching the radar loops below.

Here is the overall view of the Great Lakes region:

From MLive Chief Meteorologist Mark Torregrossa: “Although a tornado is still not expected, the tornado probability has increased to 5% in the far southwest of our state. This means that if a thunderstorm complex comes up from Lake Michigan, there could be enough swirling surface wind to rotate a thunderstorm and produce a tornado. This is a weather pattern that is common in Niles, Benton Harbor, Dowagiac, Decatur, Paw Paw and Kalamazoo.”

Here is the radar for the Chicago area:

Next is the radar for the Kalamazoo area:

A flood warning is also in effect this evening in large parts of southern Michigan.

Recent rains have soaked the ground in some areas, and if tonight’s storms bring another two inches of rain to certain areas, it could cause localized flooding.