Multiple alerts have been issued for Sunday and Monday for northern Michigan.
Overnight Saturday night into Sunday morning, some precip starts to arrive, mostly in the form of freezing drizzle and rain. This could make for some slick travel Sunday morning. Ice accumulations will remain generally light of just a glaze to a few hundredths of an inch, but will still make for slick travel.
Due to the possibility of freezing drizzle, a Winter Weather Advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service. This is in effect for Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Gladwin, Lake, Newaygo, Osceola, Clare, Mecosta, and Isabella Counties from 1am Sunday through 1pm Sunday, and for Emmet, Cheboygan, Presque Isle, Antrim, Otsego, Charlevoix, Montmorency, Alpena, Crawford, Oscoda, Alcona, Ogemaw, Iosco, and Arenac Counties from 4am Sunday through 1pm Sunday.
This will likely change over to some light rain late morning into the afternoon as a strong warm front moves through, melting some of the ice away. This will bring some areas into the 40’s by late afternoon. However, overnight Sunday, a cold front just as strong moves through, crashing temperatures overnight. This will likely lead to another flash freeze and leading to icy spots once again. This also may lead to another period of some freezing rain, especially in the eastern upper peninsula, where another tenth of an inch is possible.
Behind that, some snow moves in on the back side, leading to lake effect snow to follow. This will make for nearly impossible travel late Sunday night and for nearly all of Monday. Whiteout conditions, near zero mile visibility, and blowing and drifting snow is likely from this. This will lead to significant amounts of snow across the area on Monday, with amounts areas further inland south of M-55, as much as 3-6 inches with locally higher amounts possible. Then areas north of M-55 or west of I-75 with a general 4 to 8 inches with locally higher amounts possible. Amounts of 8-16 inches or more in the eastern upper peninsula are possible with locally higher amounts possible. On top of that, winds will be gusting to as much as 50 mph or greater leading to blizzard-like conditions at times. It is advised to NOT travel if at all possible on Monday.
With that, Winter Storm Watches have been issued. This will likely be upgraded to Winter Weather Advisories, Winter Storm Warnings, or even Blizzard Warnings for some. Winter Storm Watches have been issued from late Sunday night through Monday evening for Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Wexford, Emmet, Cheboygan, Presque Isle, Antrim, Otsego, Charlevoix, Leelanau, Benzie, Manistee, Mason, Oceana, Lake, and Newaygo Counties. Winter Storm Warnings have already been issued for Chippewa and Mackinac Counties from 7pm Sunday through 7pm Monday, along with a Blizzard Warning for Luce County from 10pm Sunday through 7pm Monday High Wind Watches have also been issued Gladwin, Arenac, Osceola, Clare, Mecosta, and Isabella Counties from Sunday night through Monday evening with the possibility of wind gusts up to 50+ mph possible.
Stay with Up North Live and the Storm Team as we continue to monitor this impactful winter storm.
