Heavy Snow Expected in Great Lakes Region
Parts of the Great Lakes region could see several more feet of snow by Tuesday, with intense lake-effect snow moving through the area.
As of Thursday, snowfall had started on the shores of Lake Erie and Lake Superior, affecting areas in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. These places often experience significant lake-effect events.
A low-pressure system will make its way through the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes, expected to linger until Sunday. Once it shifts east, a notable dip in the jet stream will allow a continuous flow of cold air, which means more snow for the region.
Bands of lake-effect snow will likely continue to evolve over the weekend and into early next week, with up to 2 feet of snow predicted by Tuesday, especially along the eastern shores of Lake Michigan.
The southwest part of Michigan, particularly around Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, is at the highest risk for significant snowfall.
So far this winter, only about 34 inches of snow have been recorded in Grand Rapids, which is quite a bit less than the average of over 3 feet for this time of year.
Current forecasts indicate that the area may receive an additional 18 to 24 inches of snow by Tuesday, quickly making up for the snowfall shortfall.
These lake-effect bands could create dangerous conditions, including snow squalls that reduce visibility to almost nothing and wind gusts reaching up to 40 mph, making driving very risky.
Areas near Lake Erie, Lake Superior, and Lake Ontario are also expected to experience snow, according to the FOX Prediction Center. There’s even a warning for frigid temperatures impacting events this week.
As lake-effect snow continues into Tuesday, places like Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester, and Watertown in New York, alongside Marquette in Michigan, might see nearly a foot of accumulation.
Most of the snow’s impact is anticipated to diminish by Tuesday morning. However, there’s still a chance for more snow later in the week, though specifics about locations and amounts are not clear yet.
