Mid-Michigan Dodges Severe Weather

Once again, Mid-Michigan was spared from the brunt of a storm front packing severe weather. Around 9:00 a.m. this morning Gratiot County was under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, but that's as close as the heavy storms got to Lansing. This is the same front that brought heavy winds to West Michigan and the Muskegon Area, where numerous reports of damage surfaced. (mlive.com link to Muskegon storm coverage) The storms picked up strength as they moved east, prompting Tornado Warnings for Ogemaw and Iosco Counties around noon. The National Weather Service confirmed tornado damage in the small town of Hale, just north of the M-65/M-55 interchange. (mlive.com link to Hale tornado coverage, video footage link here.)

Forecasters say that the threat of severe weather exists still tonight and into Wednesday

.