Saturday Weather Update: Odd area gets heavy lake-effect today, some get foot of snow by Tuesday

Here’s a general rundown of the weather situation across Michigan today and through Tuesday.

Today most of Michigan will just have off-and-on snow showers. The sporadic nature of the snow means most of us only get an inch or less of snow.

This will not be true for an odd shaped heavy lake-effect snow area. This uncommon heavy snow will stretch from Muskegon, Pentwater and Ludington northeastward through Big Rapids to northeast Lower Michigan. Normally this heavy lake-effect snow band would extend southeast into Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. The Traverse city area will get into off-and-on heavier snow this evening.

The winter weather advisory for today from Muskegon to Ludington and Big Rapids shows where the odd heavy lake-effect will fall.

Current winter weather advisories in purple show the heaviest lake-effect snow from Muskegon to Ludington to Big Rapids.NOAA

Here’s the radar forecast today to Sunday night. Remember- the most treacherous period coming up is still expected to be Monday, with fresh fluffy snow on the ground and 35 mph to 45 mph gusts.

Radar forecast from noon today, January 17 to 1 p.m. Monday, January 19.NOAA

The total snowfall map for just today gives us a good idea of who gets snow today and who doesn’t. Southeast lower Michigan should just have non-accumulating flurries. There will be a swath of two inches to six inches from the Lake Michigan shoreline through the Traverse City area to Kalkaska and Gaylord. The snow today will come in spurts, so it will take until late evening for this total snow.

Total snowfall today, January 17 through 10 p.m. tonight.NOAA

The Arctic air blasting in Sunday night into Monday and Tuesday will bring a fairly widespread heavy snow for the entire western third of lower Michigan. A general total of six to 10 inches of snow can be expected on the west side through Tuesday. It really won’t be easy to measure because of the blowing and drifting. Over the eastern two-thirds of lower Michigan it really won’t be a heavy accumulation. Expect only one to three inches of snow, but again it will be snow that blows easily and reduces visibility. That type of snow blows across roads and makes quick icy patches.

Total snowfall forecast from today, January 17 to 7 a.m. Tuesday, January 20.NOAA

I still expect Sunday night, Monday and Monday night to have very treacherous driving conditions all across lower Michigan, but especially in the western third, from U.S. 131 westward. Blizzard conditions are possible along U.S. 31 Sunday night and Monday.

Here are the MDOT road cameras if you want to see road conditions before you travel today. As of 7 a.m., the only area I found that looked really snowy was U.S. 31 from around Muskegon to around Ludington. You can find quick slick spots anywhere in Michigan though.

Here’s what I’m seeing for Monday. It still looks accurate.

Stay updated with Michigan’s weather at MLive.com/weather.