Beware the Wintry Mix: Monday’s Journey May Turn Slippery!

A significant portion of the Lower Peninsula is under a Winter Weather Advisory as a Clipper system is poised to deliver a mix of winter precipitation across Michigan on Monday. In Northern Michigan and the U.P., some regions could experience heavy snow, while Mid-Michigan might see moderate snow amounts. Areas in West Michigan and the southern part of the state may encounter precipitation as freezing rain, sleet, or a combination of rain and snow.

The expected timing for this system is between approximately 7 a.m. on Monday to 10 p.m. The possibility of light icing on roads exists near and south of I-96 on Monday morning extending into the early afternoon, as stated by the National Weather Service (NWS) office located in Grand Rapids.

This weather pattern could contribute to slick roads and risky travel conditions in certain areas.

“A system will deliver light snow, typically ranging from 1-4 inches, over Central Lower Michigan from Monday into the evening,” noted NWS meteorologists. “A mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain is possible near and south of I-96. Slick roads could lead to travel difficulties.”

Below are the forecast highlights from NWS in anticipation of Monday’s system:

• Primarily snow north of I-96: 1-4″ anticipated east of U.S. 131, a trace to 2″ west of U.S. 131
• Wintry mix of snow, sleet, and light freezing rain along the I-96 corridor. Less than 1 inch of snow and sleet likely with slight icing
• Mostly light freezing rain south of I-96 through the early afternoon before transitioning to rain/snow mix, with a light glaze of ice expected
• Minor dusting of snow before dawn (less than 0.5″) for Isabella, Clare, Mecosta, and Osceola counties
• Widespread precipitation is forecast to arrive post 7 a.m. Monday and persist through the evening
• Slick roads/sidewalks are probable leading to spells of hazardous travel
• Small variations in temperature could shift the precise boundaries between ice, wintry mix, and snow

Southeast Michigan

Precipitation is forecast to commence in the late morning and early afternoon. Snow will dominate north of I-69, according to the NWS team in Detroit.

“Snow is anticipated tomorrow with accumulations ranging from 2 to 5 inches forecasted north of Metro Detroit. This may create dangerous travel conditions for the Monday afternoon/evening commute.”

Northern Michigan

“A few inches of wet, slippery snow are anticipated to accumulate over various parts of the area within the next 24-36 hours as a clipper weather system moves through,” said NWS meteorologists in Gaylord. “Light snow will begin to expand into more widespread snow late tonight, leading to potentially hazardous travel conditions for the Monday morning commute. Snow will gradually move across the region throughout the day, ultimately exiting northeast Lower Michigan Monday night.”

Upper Peninsula

The eastern region of the U.P. is forecast to receive the highest snowfall with this Clipper system. The wet snowfall is expected to begin tonight and continue through Monday.

“The most significant snowfall accumulations in the U.P. are predicted from Manistique eastward along the Mackinac Bridge, with 2″ to 5″ inches of wet snow possible,“ remarked the NWS Marquette team. ”Expect slippery road conditions. Allow for extra travel time on Monday morning, particularly along the M-28 and US-2 routes.“

“If you are heading to or from the Lower Peninsula, be prepared for increased travel time due to a higher likelihood of 4″ to 6″ inches of wet snowfall across much of the northern L.P. The western half of the U.P. will likely see only a dusting to an inch of snow by Monday under mostly cloudy conditions.”