Severe storms triggered four tornado warnings across southeast Michigan on Tuesday, with the most intense weather crossing Downriver between 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. The storm cells were tracking north and northeast as the system pushed through the region.

Stephanie Mead said the rotation was moving slowly before it died out, even as the slow-moving storm advanced at about 20 miles per hour. Heavy rain was part of the threat, with pockets of 1 to 2 inches of rainfall possible in a short period, along with gusty downburst winds.

Earlier in the day, tornado warnings were issued for Genesee, Shiawasee and Saginaw counties. The warnings added urgency to a weather system that had already been bringing widespread rain and thunderstorms to southeast Michigan.

The storm setup did not end with the warnings. Downpours and windy conditions were expected by afternoon, while heat in Metro Detroit was expected to continue tomorrow and Thursday with highs in the 90s and heat index values in the mid to upper 90s.

Scattered showers were expected Wednesday, and storms were possible again Thursday. For southeast Michigan, that leaves the main question not whether the threat existed on Tuesday, but how long the cycle of rain, heat and renewed storms will keep rolling through the rest of the week.