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Tuesday Forecast: Snow, Wind, Cold Moving In

Posted at 5:20 AM, Feb 19, 2013
and last updated 2013-02-19 10:58:29-05

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Things may seem quiet for many waking up in West Michigan Tuesday morning, but conditions will deteriorate rapidly through midday.

A cold front was in the process of moving out of the area early Tuesday morning, with wind picking up behind the front and temperatures falling rapidly.  Readings were already in the low to mid-30s by 4:00 A.M. after sitting well into the 40s Monday evening.  Winds from the west were gusting between 30 to 40 miles per hour in many locations as well.

A period of generally dry conditions will help through part of the morning commute, but snow will start to pick up by later in the morning and intensify through midday into the afternoon.  At that point, temperatures will be in the low to mid 20s, with wind chills in the single digits.  Blowing snow will add to the deteriorating conditions throughout the daytime; expect a very difficult afternoon commute around West Michigan.

Snow accumulations through Wednesday midday are outlined in the map below.  Most of this snow will occur by early Tuesday evening, with another inch or two possible along the lakeshore through Wednesday morning.

Snowfall map

Computer snowfall forecast from Tuesday morning, 2/19/13, through Wednesday, 2/20/13

Check the FOX 17 Facebook pageand the Weather page on FOX17online.com for updates throughout the day, and watch meteorologists Rick Mecklenburg and Kevin Craig on FOX 17 News at Five and Six.