GRAND RAPIDS — GRAND RAPIDS — The forecast from FOX 17 Chief Meteorologist Kevin Craig: Unseasonably mild air will be with us overnight as low pressure continues to move to our northeast pulling a warm front north of the area. Temperatures will stay mild enough for just rain showers on Friday, but as colder air works in upon stiff north to northeast winds Friday night into Saturday morning, this rain will change to freezing rain and sleet. This icy mess of weather will continue through the day on Saturday, with dangerous travel likely and numerous power outages possible. WINTER STORM WATCHES have been posted for the entire area from Friday night through Sunday morning, so we're expecting a long duration event. We're also anticipating 2" to 4" of total precipitation, which is an unprecedented amount of moisture for this time of year. A significant icing event of .50" to 1" or more is possible for parts of West Michigan, coupled with sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph. We expect this will produce a crippling effect in the area with widespread power outages for long durations during this unusual high impact event. Please be safe.
TONIGHT: A chance of showers, especially south of Grand Rapids. Steady temperatures in the low/mid 40s. South winds at 10 to 20 mph subsiding to 5 to 15 mph and switching to the southwest late.
TOMORROW: Cloudy with scattered rain showers. Continued mild with highs in the mid/upper 40s. South winds at 5 to 10 mph becoming north to northeasterly late.
TOMORROW NIGHT: Evening rain likely. The rain becomes heavier after midnight and eventually will change to freezing rain and/or sleet overnight into the early morning hours. Lows in the lower 30s. North/northeast winds at 10 to 20 mph.
SATURDAY: Freezing rain and sleet likely. This precipitation could mix with or change to snow well to the north of Grand Rapids. Along and south of I-94, it's possible plain rain will mix in at times. Windy with steady or slowly falling temperatures in the upper 20s to around 30. Northeast winds at 20 to 30 mph gusting to 40 mph or greater.
SATURDAY NIGHT: A mix of sleet and freezing rain early, changing to rain along and south of I-96 late, then back to freezing rain, sleet, and/or snow by Sunday morning. Temperatures rising into the mid to upper 30s by midnight, then falling to around 30 by sunrise.
SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy with a light mix or snow showers possible the first half of the day. Becoming partly sunny. Breezy with steady temperatures around 30 or in the lower 30s.
