Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Muskegon Heights, MI

DISCUSSION
Issued at 259 AM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026

- Severe thunderstorms overnight into early Tuesday Morning

A boundary continues to move through northern lower Michigan overnight through early this morning. Severe storms with large hail have already moved along and north of the US 10 corridor. While there remains some CIN, upwards of -250 J/kg south of that corridor, there is just enough mixed layer CAPE to allow for the strong 0-3KM shear and LLJ to continue storm generation. Latest CAMS, especially the HRRR, have the convection from across Wisconsin swinging through the region This morning with strong to severe storms moving through central Lower Michigan through sunrise. Strongest storms should be north of I 96 with the northern boundary north of US 10. DCAPE with frontal passage will be 600 J/kg at best. However, mid level lapse rates are trending around 7 C/km and the shear vector remains west to east, which could allow stronger winds to mix to the surface around sunrise. So while damaging winds are possible, large hail remains our biggest concern. The line is expected to begin to move into the region around 09, along with the mid level low and corresponding wave. That wave along with the LLJ will move into southern Quebec and to the east by 12Z which will end this morning's threat of severe weather.

- Severe Thunderstorms possible late Tuesday into early Wednesday

Any tertiary showers this morning should linger to the south and will be in more stable air and not expected to be strong or severe.

Latest SPC Day 1 Outlook for later Today into Wednesday continues to have almost all of lower Michigan in a slight risk. The enhanced risk has shifted to cover most of southern Wisconsin. The temperature of Lake Michigan shouldn't impede storms as it should provide a cold pool for them to move over.

The persistent southwesterly flow should correspond with warm air advection ahead of the incoming surface low. That should allow the atmosphere to recover by late this afternoon ahead of this afternoon and evening's system. Daytime heating of 70s to low 80s, especially south of I 96 should provide MLCAPE of 1 to 2K J/kg. The wind profiles favor supercell formation. Latest CAMS continue to have storms forming after 22Z and continuing through at least the first half of the overnight period as the strong 850mb jet of upwards of 45 kts should continue to fuel storm generation into early Wednesday. Based on those factors, there remains a good chance for strong to severe storms late Tuesday afternoon with damaging winds and large hail the main threats.
However, with low LCL's and strong shear, an isolated tornado is possible.

- Flood Potential remains elevated through the week

A flood watch will remain into Wednesday. Heavy downpours from the latest storms has QPE of around 2.0 inches of rainfall with QPF to FFG of upwards of 150 percent. The mid level flow has kept the storms to train through the US 10 corridor and that pattern should continue until the above mentioned boundary moves through after 12Z.
The heavy downpour threat will shift to south of the I 96 corridor today, however QPF through Thursday remains a widespread 2 to 3 inches. So urban, stream and flash flooding remains a concern.

For information on the increasing flood threat, see the Hydrology section below.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/
Issued at 140 PM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026

VFR conditions will prevail over West Michigan through this afternoon, along with SW breezes gusting to near 20 kts and SCT-BKN 4-5kft CU/SC. This tranquil weather will not last.

Thunderstorm development is expected this afternoon across parts of WI/IL/IA. These storms will likely congeal into one or perhaps two solid lines of strong-severe thunderstorms as they race eastward across Lake Michigan. Storms will arrive at MKG around 01Z, GRR/AZO/BTL roughly 01-02Z, and LAN/JXN around 03Z. Strong gusty winds and IFR conditions will accompany these storms.

The storms will subside overnight, though MVFR conditions and a chance for showers will persist through Wednesday morning.

MARINE
Issued at 302 AM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026

Special Marine warnings for thunderstorms will continue this morning with hazardous winds and waves for small craft are expected this morning. Strong to severe storms are expected through sunrise. Thunderstorms, possibly severe thunderstorms with hail and wind, are possible over Lake Michigan this evening/tonight and Tuesday evening/night.

HYDROLOGY
Issued at 302 AM EDT Tue Apr 14 2026

Update

Another 2 to 3 inches has fallen upstream and should make its way to the Croton gauge later today.

Previous

The further north you go in the Lower Peninsula, the more significant the flooding situation becomes. Around an inch of rain fell across much of the area along and north of the Muskegon River watershed over the weekend, with a much heavier swath of 2-4 inches across the Manistee River watershed and the headwaters portions of the Muskegon basin. Coming on the heels of one of the wettest springs on record so far, and in the midst of a significantly active (and wet) ongoing weather pattern, the water that's already on the ground is going to produce renewed flooding on the Muskegon River (and many others rivers further north as well). With another 2-3" of rain over the next few days in the Muskegon, we're now expecting the most significant flood on the Muskegon River since the flood of 2018. If the next few days of rains overperform (which is entirely possible), the forecasted crests will go even higher. If you live near the Muskegon river, now is the time to prepare for significant flooding.

Meanwhile, further south, conditions in the Grand River basin are in slightly better shape, although water is still high from all of the recent rains. We've finally dropped below stage at all locations in the basin, but that trend will soon reverse as water levels start to climb again throughout the week. With an additional 2-3" of rain expected in this area as well, it's beginning to look like the region will generally repeat the flood levels experienced last week.

In addition to the river flooding, some of the thunderstorms we're expecting over the next few days could be very slow moving over the same areas repeatedly. If this happens, some localized rain totals of 4+ inches are possible in the next few days. If this happens over one of the urban areas, significant fast- developing urban flooding is possible.

GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
MI...Flood Watch through late Thursday night for MIZ037>040-043>046- 050>052.
Flood Watch from 8 PM EDT this evening through late Thursday night for MIZ056>059-064>067-071>074.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 4 AM EDT Wednesday for LMZ844>846.
Dense Fog Advisory until 4 AM EDT Wednesday for LMZ848-849.