Winter Storm Forecast Update: Winter Storm: Latest on snow forecast, high winds, dangerous wind chills – mlive.com
Whiteout conditions being reported on roads across Michigan this morning. Winds are set to increase today, and conditions are expected to worsen as blowing snow causes repeated areas of low visibility for drivers. Snow squalls are also possible.
Travel conditions are expected to remain hazardous into Tuesday, the National Weather Service said.
This morning, the Michigan Department of Transportation’s MiDrive map shows vehicle speeds on roads are slowest in West Michigan (U.S. 31, U.S. 131, I-96, I-196) and in the western part of the Upper Peninsula.
The very cold air and small snowflake size mean the snow is easily blown around by the wind. When the winds increase later today, whiteout conditions are expected to worsen. We could even see some near-blizzard conditions.
Travel is not recommended near and west of U.S. 131 today as whiteout conditions are making it hard to see the roads.Graphic provided by the National Weather Service
Here’s a breakdown of weather safety messages from our regions across the state:
West Michigan
“Travel is not recommended near and west of U.S.131 this morning into the afternoon. Whiteouts have been observed on major roads via MDOT webcams as lake effect snow bands and blowing snow are occurring,” NWS meteorologists in Grand Rapids said this morning. “Winds are steadily increasing across the area and that is causing the very powdery snow to be lofted and blown around. Several inches of new snow will occur through the day as winds gust into the 35 to 40 mph range.
“The most hazardous period for travel will be this morning into the afternoon hours before winds relax this evening. However, snow showers continue into tonight. Consider postponing your travel plans today if you live along the lakeshore or east toward the U.S. 131 corridor.”
Detroit and Southeast Michigan:
Snow squalls are possible across Southeast Michigan today. Before heading out, keep an eye on the latest conditions and forecast atweather.gov/detroit.
“An Arctic front sweeping through the area will produce moderate to briefly heavy snow showers this morning reducing visibility to under a mile and producing a quick coating of snow on untreated roadways.
“West winds around 10 mph gusting to 30 mph will result inlocalized blowing snow during the morning commute.”
Snow squalls are possible across Michigan today. Slow down on the roads and leave plenty of distance between you and other vehicles.Graphic provided by the National Weather Service
Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula
In the Upper Peninsula, M-28 is closed in both directions between Kawbawgam Road and M-94 due to white out conditions, MDOT reported.
Here are the forecast notes from the NWS team in Gaylord this morning:
- A strong band of snow has already produced whiteout conditions across the central U.P. early this morning.
- This band is expected to rotate across parts of northwest Lower Michigan – most likely the Grand Traverse Bay region including Traverse City — this morning before noon.
- 1-2″+ per hour snowfall rates are expected with this band. It will be accompanied by strong wind gusts, likely creating whiteout conditions under heaviest snowfall and a brief window of dangerous travel during the morning hours.
- Heavy lake effect snow banding is expected to set in behind this after it rotates across the area. Additional periods of high snowfall rates and localized whiteout conditions across open areas will remain possible at times as this additional banding moves across Northern Michigan this afternoon.
