WEST MICHIGAN — The forecast from FOX 17 Meteorologist Anthony Domol: Our next winter system is already spreading snow into the area and it has quickly become heavy and impactful. Thew snow from this system will be heavy, dense packing snow which will not drift because of the strong winds. It's what comes from the lake-effect, which will be finer and fluffier, that will blow/drift and cause whiteout conditions Friday. 2" to 4" of snow is likely by early Friday, with the lowest amounts around I-94 and the highest amounts north of I-96. This system will deepen and strengthen quickly north of the area Friday, leading to falling temperatures, strong winds and heavy lake-effect snow. Winds will gust 35 to 45 mph at times tonight and Friday. With temps falling into the teens, the strong winds will lead to wind chills between 0° and 10° below. Several more inches of snow will fall throughout Friday, heaviest along and west of US-131. Travel is expected to be very difficult. Arctic air really settles in over the weekend and next week with highs forecast only in the teens and overnight lows in the single digits. Wind chills will be below zero the majority of the time!
TONIGHT: Cloudy with evening snow. Widespread snow diminishes to snow showers for the overnight period. Temps fall into the upper teens and lower 20s by morning. Southeast winds shift to the west at 20 to 30 mph.
FRIDAY: Cloudy with snow showers. The heaviest snow will occur along/west of U.S. 131. Gusty winds with possible blowing and drifting snow leading to white out conditions. Colder with highs in the middle 20s around daybreak, falling into the teens during the day. Including Thursday's system snow and Friday's lake-effect snow, locations along and west of US-131 will see 6" to 10" on the ground by Saturday morning. If you live east of US-131, you will have 3" to 6" on the ground. West southwest winds at 20 to 30 mph, gusting to 40 to 45 mph at times.
SATURDAY: Cloudy with flurries and light snow possible. Highs only in the upper teens.
SUNDAY: Cloudy with a chance of snow showers. Highs in the lower to mid teens.
MONDAY: Cloudy with a chance of snow showers. Highs in the middle teens.
