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SOUTHWESTERN MICHIGAN — Weather advisories for Thursday evening include potential thunderstorms and wind speeds of 45 to 50 miles per hour in the Niles, Dowagiac and surrounding areas.

“The biggest challenge is that overnight from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. is the peak of that threat, as it occurs and moves through,” said meteorologist for the National Weather Service Michael Lewis.

The wind speeds anticipated may bring small branches down, cause power fluctuations as powerlines shake and move unsecured and light objects in yards, according to Lewis.

While the greatest threat appears to be further south into southern and central Indiana as of Thursday midday, Lewis advised residents to be alert to the storms coming through.

“The challenge is that it’s when most people are tucked in for the evening,” Lewis said. “They can get caught off guard. These will bring a quick transition as well. It will be stormy and move on. We may have several rounds of that. It’s going to be a rock and rolling kind of night.”