DETROIT – Metro Detroit is facing a risk of severe storms on Thursday that could bring strong winds, hail, and even tornadoes.

—> A warmer Wednesday across Metro Detroit before severe weather threat arrives Thursday

The highest risk currently stretches roughly between I-696 and I-96, south to the state line, classified as Level 2 of 5 (Slight). A Level 1 (Marginal) risk extends northward toward I-69.

There’s a potential for very large, damaging hail. It would be ideal to park your vehicle inside if you can.

Forecasts indicate hail could reach sizes comparable to golf balls or even tennis balls, though large hail is not guaranteed.

There’s also a risk for very damaging tornadoes, so have a tornado plan in place for your family at work, school, and home.

There’s also a risk for damaging tornadoes, so have a tornado plan in place for your family at work, school, and home.

Everything is on the table Thursday.

There’s a very low-end threat for flash flooding. It’s a lower-end threat because we’ll have some isolated downpours, but we don’t anticipate enough rain to raise a significant flash-flooding concern.

What we are most worried about is the possibility of damaging winds, though hail and tornadoes pose a more significant threat.

Tornado chances are higher in southern communities, but much of the area could see an isolated strong tornado rated EF-2 or greater.

An EF-2 tornado would produce winds of at least 111 mph and could cause significant damage, including torn-off roofs, destroyed mobile homes, and snapped large trees.

Timeline:

• We’ll start to see some showers or a storm or two around 4–5 p.m. Thursday.

• 7 p.m. and onward is the primary window for strong storms.

• By 9–10 p.m., most storms will have moved out of the area.

• Then, temperatures will drop sharply overnight, with highs on Friday only around 40 degrees.

—> Severe weather timeline: Most likely window for strong storms Thursday in Metro Detroit

“The Wiz” was a good idea in 1974, and it’s still a good idea today: Retell “The Wizard of Oz” as a musical with a Black cast, singing tunes with R&B, disco, soul and gospel arrangements.

The North American tour of this brightly colored song-and-dance spectacle, directed by Schele Williams, has eased on down the road to Milwaukee’s Marcus Performing Arts Center for performances through March 29.

It’s a clever blend of human creativity and technology. The tornado winds, poppies and even the yellow brick road are represented by costumed ensemble dancers (the yellow brick road people are drum majors). But during the March 24 opening performance, the Marcus audience also saw some groovy, psychedelic projections and a futuristic Oz.

Just like in L. Frank Baum’s original novel (1900) and the famous movie adaptation (1939), a cyclone deposits young Dorothy (Phoenix Assata LaFreniere) in Oz, where she meets and befriends Scarecrow (Elijah Ahmad Lewis), Tinman (D. Jerome) and Lion (Cal Mitchell). They’re off to see The Wiz (Alan Mingo Jr.), hoping he’ll give them a brain, a heart, some courage and a way home for Dorothy. But wicked witch Evillene (Kyla Jade) has designs on that silver footwear Dorothy’s wearing (yes, silver like the novel, rather than the movie’s ruby red).

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. . .because you have. . .but the National Football League’s biggest off-season event could be coming to the Twin Cities in the very near future.

According to the Minnesota Vikings’ official website, Minnesota Sports and Events has announced that it has officially submitted a bid to host the 2028 NFL Draft in partnership with the Vikings and U.S. Bank Stadium.

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While the Vikings’ home stadium would almost certainly serve as the anchor for the event, Matt Meunier, the Executive Vice President of Business Development and Tourism for Minnesota Sports and Events, envisions the event as having a truly regional feel.

“In terms of the location of the draft, the red carpet and all the ancillary events that go with hosting the draft, all those things are under evaluation by the league right now, so it’s to be determined, but what we can say is TCO Performance Center is a really viable option,” Meunier said. “Flag football, youth football is going to continue to be more prominent as it relates to the NFL and leaning into 2028 and the L.A. [Olympic] Games, so there’s potential to stage some youth football and community legacy events out at TCO Performance Center, but in addition to that, every event Minnesota Sports and Events hosts, we’re really intentional about staging events throughout the region and not just downtown [Minneapolis].”

Should the Twin Cities be selected for the event, it would complete the cycle of all four NFC North cities serving as host since the Draft moved away from being held in New York City every year. Chicago hosted the Draft in both 2015 and 2016, Detroit served as host in 2024, and the Draft was held in Green Bay last year.

This year’s NFL Draft will be held next month in Pittsburgh, while Washington, D.C. will play host to the 2027 NFL Draft.

As the article from the Vikings’ website notes, the draft in Detroit brought in fans from all 50 states and 20 foreign countries, generating an economic impact of over $200 million for the greater Detroit area. Surely Minneapolis/St. Paul can do better than that, right?

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Right?

It is unknown when the announcement of where the 2028 NFL Draft will be hosted will be made or which other cities are competing for the opportunity, but hopefully the Twin Cities will get their opportunity to serve as host.