WEST MICHIGAN — A potent Winter Storm developing in the Central Plains moves into the Great Lakes region Saturday night and Sunday bringing heavy snow, gusty winds and bitterly cold temperatures.
The system we have been tracking all week continues to develop and move in our direction Saturday. As this developing system moves east it will tap directly into gulf moisture, allowing the moisture to travel north into the Great Lakes. As the low moves into the region it will pull cold Canadian air south into West Michigan. This combination between abundant gulf moisture and cold Canadian air could lead to heavy snow developing throughout the day Sunday.
As the low moves into the Great Lakes region it will continue to strengthen allowing winds to become very breezy. Winds will gust out of the northeast between 20 and 30 mph dropping visibility and feel-like temperatures into the single digits and below-zero.
Wind Forecast Valid Sunday February 1st
Temperatures will also fall throughout the day Sunday behind the front. The warmest part of the day will be in early morning before temperatures fall into the teens by afternoon and into the single digits by overnight. If skies clear by sunrise Monday morning, many areas could drop well below zero.
A closer look at the timing:
Snow will move in Saturday night and move further north of the Interstate 96 corridor by sunrise.
FutureTrack HD Valid Sunday 6 AM
By afternoon and evening, snow will become widespread across the southern portion of the state, with the heaviest area south of Grand Rapids. Gusty winds will drop visibility to near zero in some areas.
FutureTrack HD Valid Sunday 8 PM
Snow will continue throughout the evening. Temperatures will fall into the single digits allowing for efficient snow making. This will keep snow falling at a moderate pace overnight but also allow snow to become more fine and easily transported by breezy winds.
FutureTrack HD Valid Sunday 11 PM
Snow will start to taper off around midnight, and skies may even clear towards sunrise Monday. Temperatures will remain bitterly cold Monday morning and afternoon as high temperatures will only reach into the teens.
FutureTrack HD Valid Monday 6 AM
While all of the southern lower peninsula will see a chance at accumulating snow Sunday, the heaviest totals will fall across our southern counties and along/south of Interstate 94 towards the Indiana and Ohio border. Some of those areas could see around 12 to 14 inches, however totals are more likely to be between 8 and 12 inches. Snow totals will diminish the further north you go. Areas in Ottawa, Kent, and Ionia counties will see about 5″-9″, with 3″-6″ likely from southern Muskegon, through northern Kent, and southern Montcalm counties. Further north only two to three inches are expected.
As always, prepare for travel to be impacted through at least Monday morning and keep an eye on future forecasts as the track may change slightly in the next 24-hours. While this system has the opportunity to drop large accumulations in some areas, it will occur over a large amount of time (long duration event) lessening the impact from snow accumulations. A combination of blowing, drifting snow and bitterly cold temperatures will however make it difficult for road crews to keep roadways clear.
