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FOX 17 Weekend Forecast Update

Posted at 11:19 AM, Jan 03, 2015
and last updated 2015-01-03 11:19:43-05

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A wintry mix of precipitation will continue across West Michigan Saturday before taking a break Saturday night.  If you’re looking for current conditions, including interactive radar, head to the main Weather page.

Here is a breakdown of how things look to play out for the rest of the weekend (watch for additional updates — small differences in temperatures will have a big impact on overall conditions):

FOX 17 Future Track HD forecast for Saturday afternoon, 1/3/15

FOX 17 Future Track HD forecast for Saturday afternoon, 1/3/15

  • Saturday afternoon / evening: A gradual transition to rain will take place from south to north, up to roughly Ottawa/Kent/Ionia counties.  Those locations may hang onto a wintry mix, while areas north of there will continue to see some snow with one to three inches of accumulation in total through Saturday evening.  Temperatures will be in the low to mid 30s.  Wet weather will take a bit of a break Saturday night, although some drizzle or freezing drizzle will remain possible at times.
010315_SunAM

FOX 17 Future Track HD forecast for Sunday morning, January 4, 2015

  • Sunday morning: Temperatures start to drop back into the 20s as another wave of moisture wraps around the back side of the storm system.  This will fall mainly as snow, with most locations picking up another one to three inches through the afternoon.
FOX 17 Future Track HD forecast for Sunday afternoon, January 4, 2015

FOX 17 Future Track HD forecast for Sunday afternoon, January 4, 2015

  • Sunday afternoon into Monday morning: Much colder Arctic air will plunge into West Michigan, causing temperatures to fall from the 20s into the 5-10° range by Monday morning.  Winds will also pick up and shift to the northwest in the afternoon and evening, adding lake-effect snow to the departing moisture from the storm system itself.   That snow will accumulate a couple more inches Sunday night, with some higher totals possible along the lakeshore south of Holland (see image above for darker blue bands).

We haven’t posted a snow total map here because the three individual periods of snow will add up so differently in various locations.  Regardless, expect that by Monday morning we will be plunged back into the firm grip of winter, with cold that will linger throughout the week.

There is also another system that we are watching closely for Monday night into Tuesday, which could give us additional snow accumulations followed by more lake-effect.  The Arctic outbreak this week will be reminiscent of what West Michigan experienced during the same timeframe last January.  We’ll share more about that as we continue through the weekend.