MI Winter Storm: Blizzard Warnings, Lake Effect Snow, Strong Winds

An early season winter storm is expected to hammer Michigan with blizzard conditions, heavy snow and strong winds through Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

Blizzard warnings are in effect across the western Upper Peninsula where heavy snow could fall at 1 to 2 inches per hour. Winds could also reach 55 miles per hour, creating whiteout conditions. Some areas across the Upper Peninsula could see 3 feet of snow by Thursday evening, the weather service said.

Forecasters warned travel in those areas will be treacherous to impossible.

Winter storm warnings were spread across northern Michigan where bands of heavy lake effect snow could dump several inches through Friday, the weather service said.

Areas around Otsego, Crawford, Missaukee, Roscommon and Charlevoix will see between 6 and 12 inches of snow by Friday. If the snow bands hold together, a narrow corridor through Antrim, Kalkaska, Crawford and Roscommon could see up to 18 inches of snow by Friday, the weather service said.

Forecasters warned strong northwest winds coming off of Lake Michigan could reach 50 miles per hour and make travel very difficult in those areas.

The potent winter storm will also impact southern lower Michigan through Thursday. Most areas will see heavy lake effect snow bands with steady winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour with gusts reaching up to 45 miles per hour, the weather service said.

A dusting to 2 inches of snow is expected across southeastern Michigan, with 1 to 2 inches of snow likely in the metro Detroit area through Thursday. Some areas in the Thumb region could see up to an additional 3 inches of snow by Thursday night, the weather service said.

Wind chills will drop temperatures into the teens Thursday morning.

The winter storm should move out of Michigan by Friday afternoon, though lake effect snow will still hang around in some areas across the state, the weather service said.

The coldest air of the season so far then follows the storm, as highs will drop into the 20s across Michigan, with lows falling into single digits in some areas, the weather service said.