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SNOW INCOMING:

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We have two winter systems on the way, and both will bring impactful snow to Michigan. Here’s your full breakdown of what to expect, when to expect it, and who is likely to see the heaviest totals. --- System One: Tonight into Tuesday A fast-moving Alberta clipper will be the first in our line, sliding across the Great Lakes. This initial wave will spread a general 2–5 inches of snow across much of northern Lower Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, providing a fresh blanket by Tuesday morning. However, the most significant totals will be tied to a zone of low-level convergence setting up over Lake Michigan and funneling into the eastern U.P. This will allow a tight, persistent lake-effect band to develop from Frankfort and the Manitou Islands northeastward through Paradise and Whitefish Bay. Areas under this band may see 8–12 inches, locally higher if the band stalls for any extended period. Farther south across the Lower Peninsula, moisture is limited and lift is weaker, so snowfall wil...
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Saturday: Here comes the Su- snow!

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We begin the day with temperatures starting off in the lower 20s across Michigan, gradually climbing into the upper 20s throughout the afternoon for most of the Lower Peninsula. A few brief breaks of sunshine are possible early on, particularly for areas east of US 127, before increasing cloud cover moves in ahead of our approaching winter storm. While those pockets of sunshine may slightly delay the very first flakes in a few locations, they will not slow down the much more significant snowfall that arrives later tonight. Our highs today: Our lows: The core of the storm is still on track to deliver its heaviest snowfall to southwest Michigan, where totals are expected to reach between 7 and 13 inches by the end of the day Sunday. A few isolated communities within the main deformation band may approach or slightly exceed a foot of accumulation. Winds will be variable through the day and into tonight. Gusts may reach up to 30 mph closer to the Michigan, Indiana, ...
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WINTER STORM INCOMING:

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We’re tracking another significant winter storm set to move into Michigan from Saturday evening through early Sunday morning, and this one has the potential to bring heavy snowfall, hazardous travel, and over a foot of snow in a few localized areas. While winds with this system won’t be quite as intense as the last storm, conditions will still be impactful, especially for anyone traveling after the Thanksgiving holiday.  Storm Overview A broad shield of snow will develop Saturday afternoon before intensifying into the evening and overnight hours. Much of the Lower Peninsula south of US-10 is expected to sit under 18+ hours of steady light-to-moderate snowfall, which will allow totals to pile up, generally around 6 inches, with more in the warned areas. By Saturday evening, widespread travel difficulties are likely. Roads will deteriorate quickly and remain hazardous through early Sunday morning. This will especially affect major travel corridors including I-96, I-94, I-196, and US-...
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WINTER STORM INCOMING: We think.

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...Snow. Again! That’s right, another winter storm is gearing up and setting its sights on Michigan. So what’s going on, and what can we expect? Let’s break it down. Our piece of upper-level energy for this system made landfall along the Pacific Coast early this morning. From there, forecast models carry it due east across the Central Plains before it lifts into the Great Lakes, with impacts beginning as early as 3 PM EST Saturday, though that timing may still shift. By late Saturday night, a deep, well-defined dendritic growth zone sets up overhead, paired with a fully saturated troposphere from the surface up through nearly 10 km. Translation? Plenty of moisture and an ideal temperature profile for efficient snowfall production. Add in surface wind gusts that could top 30 mph, and we’re looking at reduced visibility, drifting on back roads, and some travel challenges, especially in open areas. Given the current setup, snowfall rates near 1 inch per hour look entirely possible at time...
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Mesoscale Discussion #2236: Michigan

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SPC issues Mesoscale Discussion #2236 for heavy snow: A dominant and well-organized lake-effect snow band remains firmly in place early this afternoon across northern Lower Michigan, supported by a notable upstream connection to Lake Superior. Dual-pol imagery from KAPX continues to sample elevated KDP values within the core of this band, indicating highly efficient snowfall production. As a result, snowfall rates on the order of 1 to 2 inches per hour remain likely in the most persistent portions of the band. Given the lack of significant change in the synoptic environment through the next several hours—particularly the steady low-level wind field and continued cold air advection over the lakes—there is strong confidence that this band will hold its current structure and intensity well into the afternoon. High-resolution ensemble guidance supports this scenario, showing a sustained and narrowly focused plume of enhanced reflectivity lingering over roughly the s...
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Thanksgiving!!

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Happy Thanksgiving, Michigan! Here’s your full holiday forecast: As we kick off this Thanksgiving morning, lake-effect snow is continuing to organize into a couple of strong, persistent bands across both peninsulas. This setup means snowfall totals will vary a lot depending on where those bands settle. Some areas may scrape by with an inch or less, while others could get hammered with a half-foot or more. The true jackpot zones may see over 12 inches of fresh snow by late tonight or early Friday. Temperatures today will hover right around freezing across much of the Lower Peninsula, with a few spots in the east briefly pushing into the upper 30s, but 40s aren’t likely. Meanwhile, the Upper Peninsula stays locked into the mid-20s, reinforcing that classic early-winter chill. Lows tonight will dip into the 20s statewide, with some colder pockets slipping even lower. Along the immediate lakeshore, the microclimate may allow pockets of light freezing drizzle to mix in, just eno...
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Oh boy..

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Today is shaping up to be a fascinating, if chaotic weather day across Michigan. A powerful system is splitting the state in two: the Upper Peninsula is dealing with full-blown blizzard conditions, while the Lower Peninsula wakes up to cold temperatures and a round of morning rain. It’s one of those days where the atmosphere can’t quite make up its mind. We’ll start with the Lower Peninsula, where rain arrives early and lingers through the morning hours. Meanwhile, the UP is already buried under multiple inches of snow, with the Porcupine Mountains seeing some of the heaviest accumulations so far. High temperatures actually occur early today, with some spots briefly hitting the 40s, but once the cold front sweeps through, expect a rapid drop into the 30s and even 20s by the afternoon. Rain will hold on the longest across the eastern UP and far eastern LP, but areas in the central UP and west Michigan will begin transitioning to snow around or shortly after 12 PM EST. Once that transiti...
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