WEST MICHIGAN — A cold Arctic air mass settles into the Great Lakes dropping temperatures well below average and bringing chances for our first accumulating snow.
Winds off of a relatively warm Lake Michigan created lake-enhanced snow showers Wednesday evening that will continue throughout the next few days. Light snow showers will continue and increase in intensity throughout Thursday. Snow showers have already led to decreased visibility and slick conditions during the morning commute on Thursday — conditions that are once again expected on Friday morning. Snow accumulations between one to three inches will be possible through Thursday afternoon.
The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids has also issued the first Winter Weather Advisories for the Lakeshore communities including: Lake, Oceana, Ottawa, Allegan, Van Buren and Kalamazoo Counties. The Winter Weather Advisory started at 1 AM Thursday morning and runs through Friday afternoon at 4 PM as snow could impact travel over the next few days.
This snowfall, while not as large and significant as the snow that impacted the Upper Peninsula, will impact travel over the area as drivers adjust to winter driving conditions.
Lake-effect snow showers will decrease in intensity Friday evening and Saturday morning but temperatures will remain well below average. It will be a cold start to deer season for area hunters as morning low temperatures fall into the low to mid 20s and barely warm into the low to mid 30s by afternoon.
Lake-effect snow continues Sunday as cooler than average temperatures settle in through the beginning of next week.
