Copyright M Live Michigan
The first significant lake-effect storm system of the season is knocking on our door. This two-round system will kick in Saturday night across parts of Michigan, then another round will come on Sunday into early Monday. By the time it’s done, one part of the Upper Peninsula could see up to a foot of snow stacked up, while some fairly heavy snow bands could set up across parts of the Lower Peninsula, bringing several inches of snow. We’re also in line for some much colder air to sweep across the state for the next few days. So find your hat and gloves and get ready for a taste of early winter. This afternoon, the National Weather Service updated the warnings and advisories associated with this incoming storm system. The pink-shaded counties in the Upper Peninsula (Marquette and Alger) are under a Winter Storm Warning. The counties in purple across the U.P. and along the Lake Michigan and Lake Huron shorelines in the Lower Peninsula are under a Winter Weather Advisory. The Southwest corner of Michigan is under a Winter Storm Watch. Here are the storm system highlights from the NWS offices across the state: Upper Peninsula “Lake effect snow showers will become widespread in the north-northwest wind snowbelts late tonight and continue into Sunday,” the NWS meteorologists in the Marquette office said today. “The heaviest snowfall is expected in eastern Marquette County and western Alger County where up to a foot of snow is expected. Up to 8 inches is expected in the Ironwood area. Another round of lake effect snow showers is expected late Sunday night into Monday. Those with weekend travel plans should be prepared for rapidly changing visibility and road conditions under lake effect snow showers.” Lake-effect snow will feed the heaviest snow band areas across the northern half of the Upper Peninsula. The eastern part of Marquette County and the western part of Alger County are the areas that could see up to a foot of snow. Northern Lower Peninsula Areas hugging the Lake Michigan and Lake Huron shorelines in Northern Michigan stand the best chance of getting 3 to 6 inches of snow between tonight and Sunday night, the NWS team in Gaylord said. “Lake effect snowfall will begin to spread this evening with the highest snowfall rates expected overnight tonight throughout the day Sunday. Accumulations of 3 to 6 inches are expected for locations near Lake Huron and Michigan shorelines by Sunday night with locally higher amounts remaining possible.” West Michigan In Lower Michigan, the first round of this storm is going to look like rain for some areas, before switching to snow as temperatures continue to fall. From the NWS team in Grand Rapids: “There are two rounds of snow ahead. The first round begins as rain this evening and will transition to snow as the evening progresses. There remains some question on amounts due to the rain and the temps. However, there is a chance for 2 or more inches of snow along the I-94 corridor from Kalamazoo to Jackson and in Mason and Oceana counties, especially near Ludington. Another round of snow is possible Sunday night into Monday morning west of U.S. 131 and could impact the Lakeshore.” Southeast Michigan By Sunday night, we could see 2 to 5 inches of snow accumulation in parts of Southeast Michigan and the Thumb area, but there will be a lot of melting first as temperatures and the ground are too warm for snow. “Rain and snow arrives tonight through Sunday morning with significant melting expected,{ the NWS meteorologists in Detroit said. ”Additional snow showers expected Sunday afternoon through Monday as conditions turn much colder. Some accumulation possible with particular focus across the Thumb shorelines from lake effect snow bands where localized 2-5 inches will be possible."
