Friday’s heavy snow forecast will collide with some gusty winds slated to build across the state, putting a big part of Michigan in the danger zone for snow squalls.
Being caught in a snow squall feels like you’ve been enclosed in an intense whirlwind of blowing, heavy snow. Kind of like if you shook a snow globe really fast. Out on the roads, snow squalls are dangerous to drivers. They cause low or no-visibility stretches on the roads, which make accidents more likely.
The National Weather Service has included a large swath of Michigan in the snow squall forecast zone for Friday. Both the morning and evening commutes could be impacted.
Snow squalls are likely across a large area of Michigan on Friday.Graphic provided by the National Weather Service
Winter Weather Advisories already cover a large part of West Michigan and Northern Michigan. And Winter Storm Warnings have been issued for the western Upper Peninsula.
But snow squalls carry a danger of their own. The National Weather Service said Friday’s hazardous conditions will envelope the western half of the Upper and Lower Peninsulas in addition to a huge area to our west, from the Dakotas and Iowa to Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois.
“Snow squalls and snow showers are likely to develop behind an Arctic cold front tonight across the Dakotas, and then spread south-southeast into the Upper Midwest Friday … ” the NWS said today. “Snow squalls may become widespread, leading to some areas receiving multiple rounds during this event.”
The snow squall hazards should clear out of Michigan by Friday night.
If you find yourself driving into a snow squall, don’t slam your brakes. The NWS advises to turn your vehicle’s lights and hazard lights on, reduce your speed, and exit the road when you can safely do that.
