Thunderstorms Bring Half-Inch Hail to Metro Detroit This Morning
Fast-moving thunderstorms brought half-inch hail across Oakland County Friday morning, with weather service tracking the system’s eastward path at 45 mph.
PONTIAC, MICHIGAN — Strong thunderstorms swept across Oakland County and surrounding areas Friday morning, bringing half-inch hail and prompting weather warnings from the National Weather Service.
Doppler radar tracked a powerful storm cell near Pontiac at 7:29 a.m., moving eastward at 45 mph, according to a special weather statement issued by NWS Detroit/Pontiac. The storm was expected to reach Troy, Sterling Heights, and Birmingham by 7:35 a.m., with Clinton Township in its path by 7:45 a.m. and Mount Clemens by 7:50 a.m.
The storm system posed the primary threat of half-inch hail capable of causing minor damage to outdoor objects, weather officials reported.
Multiple Communities in Storm’s Path
The National Weather Service warned that numerous communities would experience impacts from the fast-moving thunderstorm. Areas expected to be affected included Franklin, Keego Harbor, Roseville, Utica, Lathrup Village, Bingham Farms, Pleasant Ridge, Center Line, Huntington Woods, and Madison Heights.
Earlier Friday morning, meteorologists had been tracking the same storm system as it developed near Clarkston. At 7:11 a.m., radar indicated the thunderstorm was located near Clarkston, approximately eight miles southeast of Holly, moving east at 40 mph.
Storm Progression Across Oakland County
The storm’s predicted path showed it reaching Clarkston around 7:15 a.m. before moving toward Pontiac by 7:20 a.m. Rochester was forecast to experience the storm’s effects around 7:40 a.m.
Communities that faced impacts from the weather system included Rochester Hills, Lakeville, Waterford, Davisburg, White Lake, Leonard, Lake Orion, Auburn Hills, and Lake Angelus, according to the weather service.
The radar-indicated storm represented typical spring weather patterns for southeastern Michigan, where rapid-moving thunderstorms can develop quickly and affect multiple communities within a short timeframe. Weather officials noted that while the hail was not expected to cause significant damage, residents should protect vehicles and outdoor equipment when possible.
