WEST MICHIGAN — Warm air over the central Plains moving over the top of the cold air still entrenched across West Michigan is creating a mixture of snow and sleet this morning. Initially, some bursts of moderate to heavy snow are possible across the entire FOX 17 viewing area. After about 10am, however, we’ll start to see this snow change to sleet, freezing rain, and rain. This changeover will happen in our southwestern counties between 9am and 11am, and to the northeast of Grand Rapids (i.e. Montcalm, Mecosta, and Newaygo counties) between 2 and 4pm. This changeover will happen around noon for the Grand Rapids metro area.
Snow totals shown above via the North American model give a reasonably good estimate as to how much snow and sleet accumulation we are expecting. It looks like 2 to 4 inches of accumulation is possible in places like Big Rapids and Mt. Pleasant, around an inch (maybe two) in places like Grand Rapids, Ionia, and Muskegon. Further south and southwest of G.R., accumulations will be between a half inch and an inch.
Due to the likelihood of accumulating snow and sleet, we are under a Winter Weather Advisory until 6pm for much of the FOX 17 viewing area:
With the quicker changeover to rain in Kent, Ionia, and Muskegon counties, this advisory actually expires at 2pm:
According to Future Track HD, we’ll be mild enough for all rain across the entire area by about 3:30pm. And you’ll notice that the rain will be scattered in nature at that time:
The rain will become steadier during the evening, with rainfall amounts ranging from a quarter to a half-inch by the time it comes to an end in the wee hours of the morning on Monday. It looks like the Monday morning drive into work or school will be dry, with the exception of a few remaining puddles from the night before.
The rest of the workweek looks dry as well… and warmer! Be sure to keep checking in with us at FOX 17 throughout the week as we keep you posted on the more spring-like temperatures that are coming our way.
