GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A quiet forecast caps off the work week, but rain moving in Saturday night could lead to icy roads by Sunday morning.
Any Saturday plans should go off without a hitch with mostly cloudy, dry skies throughout the day. Rain doesn't begin until well after dark, starting around 10 PM for southwest Michigan counties, likely reaching Grand Rapids by midnight. Showers continue throughout Sunday morning, tapering off into Sunday afternoon.
Temperatures Saturday night fall into the lower 30s, introducing the possibility of mixed precipitation. The latest model runs show Saturday night's lows hovering a few degrees above and below freezing - right as the rain is expected to begin for much of West Michigan.
The type of precipitation we see on the ground depends on the vertical profile of temperatures throughout the atmosphere. With warmer temperatures likely above us in the atmosphere and temperatures near freezing at the Earth's surface, freezing rain with ice accumulation becomes a concern.
While modeled freezing rain accumulation totals don't seem impressive at first glance, it doesn't take much ice to bring major impacts. Even just 0.10" of ice can leave a light coating on cars, trees, and powerlines. Slippery roads and sidewalks can make driving and walking more difficult.
Our 13 Weather Impact team will keep you updated on freezing rain potential this weekend.
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