GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The first notable lake-effect snow event of the season remains on track, beginning late Thursday, peaking on Friday and tapering off throughout Saturday.
A 13 Weather Impact Alert is in effect from Friday and Saturday due to the likelihood of accumulating snow, below-freezing temperatures, and related travel impacts.
TIMELINE
Quiet conditions will last through the bulk of the day Thanksgiving, with only a few afternoon flurries expected. Temperatures will be on the cooler side of average for late November, only reaching the upper 30s.
A favorable lake-effect snow pattern will set in Thursday evening as a modified Arctic air mass settles over the Great Lakes, creating significant over-lake instability and resulting in lake-effect snow. The coverage and intensity of snowfall will increase Thursday night, leading to slick and snow-covered roads in areas affected by the heaviest snow bands.
Accumulating lake-effect snow will persist throughout Friday, with localized heavy bands of snow expected. Travel impacts will be greatest on Friday, with temperatures staying at or below 32°F, maintaining the potential for hazardous road conditions.
By Friday night into Saturday, lake-effect snow will begin to diminish, becoming more localized near the lakeshore. Travel impacts are expected to linger, particularly on untreated roads, as sub-freezing temperatures persist through Saturday.
WHERE & HOW MUCH
Wind direction is crucial to the precise positioning of lake-effect snow across West Michigan. Between late Thursday and early Saturday, the wind will be primarily out of the west-northwest.
A west-northwest (W-NW) wind setup is expected to produce the heaviest snowfall and most significant impacts south and west of a Muskegon-to-Grand Rapids line. Areas including southwest Kent County, southern Muskegon County, and all of Ottawa, Allegan, Barry, Van Buren, and Kalamazoo counties will experience widespread snow accumulations of 3” or more, with localized totals exceeding 6” in the heaviest snow bands from late Thursday through Saturday morning.
Across Oceana, Mason, Lake, and western Newaygo counties, widespread snow accumulations of 1” or more are expected, with localized totals exceeding 3”. While less persistent and intense, the lake-effect snow will still lead to travel impacts.
Lighter snowfall and reduced impacts are anticipated north and east of Grand Rapids, including northeast Kent County, Ionia, Montcalm, and Mecosta counties. Snowfall in these regions will likely remain under 1” with minimal travel disruptions.
IMPACTS
Travel impacts are expected, as the timing of the lake-effect snow coincides with the holiday weekend. Those who are planning to participate in Black Friday shopping should be prepared for low visibility and snow-covered roads, especially in the heaviest lake effect bands. While lake-effect snow will wane Saturday, slick spots will remain as temperatures stay below freezing. If you or family/friends plan on traveling across Michigan, the typical snow belts of N. Lower Michigan and the Upper Peninsula will also contend with lake effect snow and travel impacts late Thursday through the weekend.
Temperatures will be colder than average across West Michigan, with daytime temperatures only reaching the lower 30s Friday and Saturday, and Sunday. Nighttime temperatures will bottom out in the lower 20s. This will diminish the influence of the 'warmer' ground that was present with the first snowfall of the season last week.
NEED
It's the time to make sure the snow blower, snowplow, and anything else you use to clear snow is up and running. Continue to check in as fine details are resolved with the atmospheric setup.
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