WEST MICHIGAN — Winter Weather Advisories continue for most of West Michigan as a developing winter storm moves in. Winter Weather Advisories are issued when conditions are likely to cause a large impact on travel making it especially hazardous. A wintry mix of rain, ice and snow will turn travel in and around the Great Lakes hazardous throughout the afternoon Saturday through the early morning Sunday.
Early morning fog caused visibilities to drop making morning travel dangerous on already slippery roads and conditions will continue to deteriorate throughout the late afternoon. Light rain falling south of I-96 is mostly liquid at this point but there will be pockets that could freeze as temperatures fluctuate above and below freezing. As we head through the afternoon and move into the evening hours temperatures will likely drop below freezing west of I-69 allowing most of the liquid rain to turn to ice. The rain, snow line will likely set up between I-94 and I-96 east of US-131 with total accumulations up to a half of an inch possible.
Snow will eventually transition into snow along and north of I-96 by Sunday morning as a cold front swings through. Snow accumulations will be heaviest north of I-96 with 3 to 7 inches possible. Slick roads will also be another hazard Sunday morning as heavy rain over the last few days has allowed ponding in many areas and colder temperatures will quickly freeze all standing water.
By Sunday afternoon, the storm system will move off to the east and winds will turn north-westerly allowing for lake-effect snow showers to develop. Lake-effect should be light with less than two inches of additional snow possible along the Lakeshore through Monday.
