Whiteout situations reported throughout Michigan, harmful journey by Tuesday

Winter Storm Forecast Update: Winter Storm: Latest on snow forecast, excessive winds, harmful wind chills – mlive.com

Whiteout situations being reported on roads throughout Michigan this morning. Winds are set to extend as we speak, and situations are anticipated to worsen as blowing snow causes repeated areas of low visibility for drivers. Snow squalls are additionally doable.

Travel situations are anticipated to stay hazardous into Tuesday, the National Weather Service mentioned.

This morning, the Michigan Department of Transportation’s MiDrive map exhibits automobile speeds on roads are slowest in West Michigan (U.S. 31, U.S. 131, I-96, I-196) and within the western a part of the Upper Peninsula.

The very chilly air and small snowflake measurement imply the snow is well blown round by the wind. When the winds improve later as we speak, whiteout situations are anticipated to worsen. We might even see some near-blizzard situations.

Here’s a breakdown of climate security messages from our areas throughout the state:

West Michigan

“Travel is not recommended near and west of U.S.131 this morning into the afternoon. Whiteouts have been observed on major roads via MDOT webcams as lake effect snow bands and blowing snow are occurring,” NWS meteorologists in Grand Rapids mentioned this morning. “Winds are steadily increasing across the area and that is causing the very powdery snow to be lofted and blown around. Several inches of new snow will occur through the day as winds gust into the 35 to 40 mph range.

“The most hazardous period for travel will be this morning into the afternoon hours before winds relax this evening. However, snow showers continue into tonight. Consider postponing your travel plans today if you live along the lakeshore or east toward the U.S. 131 corridor.”

Detroit and Southeast Michigan:

Snow squalls are doable throughout Southeast Michigan as we speak. Before heading out, keep watch over the most recent situations and forecast atweather.gov/detroit.

“An Arctic front sweeping through the area will produce moderate to briefly heavy snow showers this morning reducing visibility to under a mile and producing a quick coating of snow on untreated roadways.

“West winds around 10 mph gusting to 30 mph will result inlocalized blowing snow during the morning commute.”

Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula

In the Upper Peninsula, M-28 is closed in each instructions between Kawbawgam Road and M-94 as a consequence of white out situations, MDOT reported.

Here are the forecast notes from the NWS crew in Gaylord this morning:

• A robust band of snow has already produced whiteout situations throughout the central U.P. early this morning.
• This band is predicted to rotate throughout elements of northwest Lower Michigan – probably the Grand Traverse Bay area together with Traverse City — this morning earlier than midday.
• 1-2″+ per hour snowfall charges are anticipated with this band. It can be accompanied by robust wind gusts, probably creating whiteout situations underneath heaviest snowfall and a short window of harmful journey through the morning hours.
• Heavy lake impact snow banding is predicted to set in behind this after it rotates throughout the realm. Additional intervals of excessive snowfall charges and localized whiteout situations throughout open areas will stay doable at instances as this extra banding strikes throughout Northern Michigan this afternoon.