Snow has been falling across the state today, but it’s not over yet. Winter Weather Advisories remain in effect for a large area of Michigan, and the latest forecast update from the National Weather Service shows more rounds of heavy snow are expected today and into Sunday.
But when this heavier snow will arrive depends on where you live.
Here’s the basic rundown on the timing:
West Michigan: A lull is coming, then snow will redevelop around midnight and it will keep snowing into Sunday. Up to 5 inches of snow are expected in some areas.
“Snow continues across the area this afternoon. After a brief lull this evening, snow redevelops tonight through Sunday afternoon before tapering off,” the NWS meteorologists in Grand Rapids said. “The highest totals will be northwest of a Muskegon to Clare line. Prepare for slick roads, reduced visibilities, and travel disruptions.”
Detroit: Southeast Michigan will again be our low snow area with this system. An inch or more could fall in the Irish Hills, Saginaw and the Thumb, but other places won’t see as much snow and could get just a dusting, or keep getting a wintry mix.
“A mostly rain/snow mix will be observed across the Detroit Metro area,” the NWS Detroit team said. “Visibilities may drop to one mile or less and the briefly heavier rates may cause light snow to accumulate on some roadways leading to isolated slick spots.”
Gaylord is the central hub for Northern Michigan’s huge snowmobiling network that includes 500 miles of trails.Gaylord Area Convention & Tourism Bureau
Northern Michigan: 7 p.m. tonight to 1 a.m. Sunday will be the heaviest snow window for the Northern Lower Peninsula, according to the NWS meteorologists in Gaylord.
“Accumulating snow will continue to spread across Northern Michigan today into Sunday. Accumulations remain consistent to this mornings forecast with 3-6” for most of the area and localized 7”+ possible where heaviest snow falls this evening and tonight. The combination of snow covered roads and reduced visibility will lead to hazardous travel across parts of the area.”
Upper Peninsula: The central U.P. counties are going to be the hot spot for heavier snow, roughly through about 7 p.m. tonight. Rates of up to an inch of snow per hour are expected, the NWS team in Marquette said. Up to 11 inches are expected in some areas.
Here are the latest forecast details from the NWS offices across the state:
Widespread snow continues across Michigan through Sunday morning with Winter Storm Warnings in effect for Marquette and Baraga counties in the Upper Peninsula, where 7 to 11 inches of accumulation is expected. Winter Weather Advisories cover the rest of the U.P. and all of northern Lower Michigan as a powerful low pressure system brings a combination of snow followed by lake effect snow.
The most intense snowfall is occurring this afternoon and evening across central Upper Michigan, where a band of moderate to heavy snow has set up with rates of one-half to one inch per hour. This band is expected to pivot across the region through early Sunday morning before transitioning to lake effect snow primarily impacting high terrain areas near Lake Superior. Northern Lower Michigan is experiencing general snowfall totals of three to six inches, with locally higher amounts of seven inches or more possible where a pivoting snow band stalls near the M-32 corridor.
Strong northerly winds are developing this evening across the Upper Peninsula with gusts of 25 to 35 mph, particularly near Lake Superior. Gale Warnings are in effect for Lake Superior waters through early Sunday morning, with waves building to eight to 12 feet and freezing spray expected. The combination of snow and wind will create hazardous travel conditions with reduced visibility and blowing snow.
Southern Lower Michigan is seeing lighter accumulations, with one to two inches expected across the Saginaw Valley and Thumb region, decreasing to a dusting near the Ohio border. Temperatures are hovering in the low to mid 30s across much of the area, causing some precipitation to fall as rain or wet snow that melts on contact with warmer road surfaces. However, as colder air moves in tonight, all precipitation will transition to snow.
Sunday will bring a break in the widespread snow, though scattered lake effect snow showers will continue near Lake Michigan through the afternoon. Northwest winds will remain gusty at 25 to 35 mph, making wind chills feel like the single digits across much of the state. Temperatures will struggle to reach freezing, with highs in the 20s to low 30s.
The active weather pattern continues into next week with another round of light snow arriving Sunday night into Monday, though accumulations should remain below one inch for most areas. Temperatures will moderate early in the week with highs climbing into the 30s Monday and Tuesday.
A more significant system arrives Tuesday into Wednesday, bringing a period of rain that may transition to snow as colder air returns.
