GRAND RAPIDS, Mich — Well, at least we can say we’ve put the worst of this week’s weather behind us. That doesn’t mean conditions are going to be great through the rest of the workweek, but the snowiest and coldest time periods are now in the past from this outbreak of Arctic air.
Thursday morning, lake-effect snow finally pushed entirely out of West Michigan, allowing skies to clear. However, that also allowed temperatures to plummet back into the single digits around the area, including a number of below-zero readings.
The continuing impact of the snow and ice on the roads forced more than 50 schools to close again Thursday morning. Because temperatures will remain in the teens into the afternoon, there will likely be snow-packed and slick road conditions continuing throughout the day.
Sun will linger into Thursday afternoon before clouds make a comeback as a low-pressure system heads into the Great Lakes. That system will shift winds around to the south and southwest by Thursday night, which may push some lake-effect snow showers back into lakeshore areas north of Grand Haven and Muskegon.
Widespread (not lake-effect) snow showers will develop Friday morning and continue through much of the day. Overall snow totals are likely to end up between one and three inches in most locations. However, some lake enhancement may take place especially in areas northwest of Grand Rapids, which could add a couple of inches to those snow amounts.
Total snow amounts from Sunday through Thursday morning ranged from only an inch or two for areas northeast of Grand Rapids, to more than twenty inches in a few places in central and western Allegan and Van Buren counties. Totals around one foot or more were common through parts of Ottawa, Kalamazoo, and Berrien counties as well.
Temperatures will start to climb over the next couple of days into a range that is more effective for road crews to treat icy pavement. Sun will help speed the process at times over the weekend as well.
You can see the rest of the 7-Day Forecast, including warmer temperatures and rain early next week, on the Weather page.
Thursday sunrise photo courtesy: Megan Steinfeld, Paw Paw
