Powerful Winter Storm Could Impact Thanksgiving Travel Across MI

A powerful winter storm is expected to bring snow to Michigan this week, according to the National Weather Service.

The weather service says the storm will move into Michigan Tuesday night and could impact Thanksgiving Day travel through Wednesday.

Forecasters expect parts of the Upper Peninsula and northern Michigan to get hit the hardest. They believe the storm will dump at least a foot of snow across the western half of the Upper Peninsula as well as significant amounts in the Gaylord area between Tuesday night and Thursday morning.

Those areas could see heavy snowfall rates of one to two inches per hour, combined with wind gusts of 30 to 45 miles per hour, the weather service said.

Forecasters warned travelers to be prepared for rapid visibility drops, blowing and drifting snow and extremely hazardous travel conditions.

For the southern half of the Lower Peninsula, highs will be in the 50s with rain before it shifts into snow Wednesday. The snow showers will linger into Thanksgiving Day with highs in the 30s across the region. Forecasters expect minor accumulations, with some areas getting an inch of snow at most.

Lake effect flurries could stick around in the Detroit area Friday and Saturday with highs in the 30s, the weather service says.