(WEST MICHIGAN) — West Michigan rang in spring officially at 7:02 this morning and although it is now officially spring the snow continues to fly. Lake effect snow continues this afternoon thanks to winds out of the west-north-west. Lake effect bands stretch as far inland as Lansing this afternoon but will gradually start to move closer to the lakeshore Wednesday night when winds start to turn more northerly. Additional accumulations will be somewhat light near the Grand Rapids Metro area with 1 to 3 inches possible. Areas of heavier snow will be confined to the southwest and the northwest lakeshore areas where accumulations of 3 to 6 inches could be possible.

It will take a while for spring-like temperatures to make their return to West Michigan as temperatures stay below average for the next 7 days. Average temperatures this week are in the mid 40′s, but we will struggle to warm into the low 40′s. More snow chances are in the forecast as well for the beginning of next week as the cooler air will be hard to move out. Some long-range climate models do suggest some slight warming towards the first and second weeks of April however the extent of the warming would likely only bring us back to around seasonably average.