A severe thunderstorm alert from the National Weather Service (NWS) has turned a quiet Tuesday evening into a night of weather anxiety for Mecosta County and Isabella County in Michigan, with a potent mix of pea-sized hail, gusty winds, and even the potential for funnel clouds.

The warning, issued at 9:29 p.m. EDT on June 24, 2025, is expected to remain active until 10:30 p.m. EDT. According to NWS radar data, a strong thunderstorm was tracked 7 miles southwest of Lake Isabella—moving east at 20 mph—just minutes before the alert went public.

Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible, the alert states.

Residents of Mount Pleasant, Shepherd, Lake Isabella, Remus, Millbrook, Winn, and Blanchard are within the impact zone, with winds that could peak at 40 mph and hail measuring 0.25 inches in diameter.

What’s especially concerning is the favorable environment for weak, brief funnel clouds. While not as dangerous as full-blown tornadoes, these phenomena can still pack a punch if not taken seriously. The NWS advises anyone spotting such a cloud to immediately seek shelter indoors and report sightings.

Why You Should Take Lightning Seriously

The United States experiences nearly 25 million lightning strikes annually, and according to the NWS, around 20 people lose their lives to these strikes every year. The risk peaks during active thunderstorms, even when the storm appears to be moving away.

To stay safe:

• Have a lightning safety plan if you’re outdoors.
• If you hear thunder, that’s your cue to find shelter.
• Stay indoors for at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder.
• Avoid electrical appliances, plumbing fixtures, and even cord phones during a storm.
• If indoors isn’t an option, stay away from open fields, hilltops, tall trees, water bodies, and metal objects.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the safest place during a lightning storm is a fully enclosed building or a metal-topped vehicle.

Driving in Downpours? Here’s What You Must Know

Driving through heavy rain poses another major risk. Flood-prone roads, poor visibility, and slippery surfaces can turn your commute into a nightmare.

Expert Tips from the NWS:

• Avoid drainage ditches and culverts, where water flow intensifies rapidly.
• Maintain a safe following distance—double the usual space.
• Slow down and let your vehicle naturally reduce speed.
• Stick to middle lanes to reduce hydroplaning risk.
• Turn on your headlights, even in daylight, to improve visibility.
• Watch for large vehicles, whose tire spray can blind you momentarily.
• During the first 30 minutes of rainfall, roads are most slippery due to oil and grime.
• If visibility is lost, pull over safely and wait it out.

When stopping is necessary, position your vehicle far from moving traffic, ideally beyond guardrails, and activate your emergency lights.

What’s Coming Next?

Weather watchers are keeping a close eye on this storm system. With recent alerts warning of isolated tornadoes and damaging winds across Northern Michigan, including the Traverse City region, it’s clear this pattern is far from over.

Conditions are evolving fast. Even pea-sized hail and 40 mph gusts can disrupt life if you’re not prepared, a local emergency planner told Daily Global Diary.

As always, stay updated via the National Weather Service, keep your emergency kits ready, and avoid risky travel if storms intensify.

In a heartbreaking discovery near Ash Fork, Arizona, a married couple — 74-year-old Richard Alexander and 79-year-old Elizabeth Alexander — were found dead last Friday, their bodies concealed beneath a thick blanket of snow along a rural road near their home.

According to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, initial reports suggest that “exposure” may have played a tragic role in their deaths. Investigators found the couple’s car abandoned along the historic Old Route 66, not far from where their lifeless bodies were eventually uncovered. Officials believe that the heavy snowfall after Thanksgiving may have delayed the discovery, keeping them hidden for an unknown period.

A meteorologist with the National Weather Service confirmed that the Ash Fork area was hit with approximately 12 inches of snow during a powerful winter storm over the holiday weekend, creating hazardous conditions for residents in the remote community.

While the Yavapai County Medical Examiner will provide the final confirmation on the cause of death, deputies say there are no immediate signs of foul play. “Right now, all indications point toward accidental exposure,” an official told local media, adding that extreme weather often poses hidden dangers for elderly residents living in rural Arizona.

Neighbors in the tight-knit Ash Fork community are shaken by the loss, describing the Alexanders as a friendly, loving couple who kept to themselves but were always kind. “It’s just so sad — they were good people,” said a longtime neighbor. “I wish someone had found them sooner.”

Authorities continue to investigate the timeline of events leading up to the tragedy, including when the couple last left their home and why their vehicle was stranded on the rural road.

Residents are urged to stay vigilant during winter storms and to check in on elderly neighbors, especially when severe weather strikes. “This heartbreaking incident is a reminder of how quickly nature can turn deadly,” the Sheriff’s Office emphasized in a public advisory.

The Alexanders’ family has asked for privacy as they grieve and await the final autopsy results.