Michigan Braces for Midweek Snow Surprise

Michigan is in for a snowy ride this week. A quick-moving storm, similar to an Alberta Clipper, is set to bring snow to much of the state starting tonight and lasting through Wednesday morning. The biggest snowfall is expected in a wide area stretching from Traverse City to Oscoda, down through central Lower Michigan, and reaching places like Big Rapids, Saginaw, and the Thumb region. Here, snow totals could range from four to seven inches by noon Wednesday. This kind of snowfall is enough to issue a winter weather advisory. In southern Michigan, the snow will come down hard for about four hours, from midnight to 4 a. m. tonight. However, as morning approaches, the snow is likely to turn into rain, which will reduce the total snow accumulation by midday Wednesday. By Wednesday afternoon, the widespread snow will taper off, giving way to spotty lake-effect snow. If you're looking to avoid snow while driving, Wednesday afternoon or late tonight might be your best bet. The snow will be heavy at times, even in southern Michigan, including cities like Ann Arbor, Detroit, Kalamazoo, and Grand Rapids. From Bay City to Midland to Big Rapids, the precipitation is expected to stay all snow. The Saginaw area will see mostly snow, while Flint and Grand Rapids could experience a mix of snow, rain, and freezing rain between 5 a. m. and 9 a. m. Wednesday. The heaviest snow will fall in the winter weather advisory area. While this isn't a record-breaking storm, it's still a significant snowfall. Expect five to seven inches of snow from Traverse City and Cadillac down to Houghton Lake, Clare, Midland, Bay City, and Tawas City. Just south of this area, places like Ludington, Big Rapids, the Saginaw area, and the Thumb region can expect three to five inches of snow. For areas further south, the snowfall forecast is a bit more complicated. A burst of heavy snow is expected overnight, with three to four inches possible in a short time. As daylight approaches, a mix of rain will move in, which will help melt some of the snow. There may even be another inch of snow in the latter part of Wednesday morning. In the southern areas where the snow turns to rain, temperatures should warm up to around 35 degrees by daybreak. This could lead to a few hours of wet roads on the interstates and state highways. There's also a chance of freezing rain for a couple of hours before temperatures rise above freezing.