Winter Storm Warning: ‘Dangerous to Impossible’ Journey Circumstances

A winter storm watch and warning are in impact close to the Great Lakes the place heavy lake impact snow and powerful winds are anticipated via Monday.

Some areas might see as much as a foot of snow, creating “dangerous to impossible travel conditions,” based on the National Weather Service (NWS).

Why It Matters

Lake impact snow is a climate phenomenon that happens when chilly air passes over a hotter physique of water, such because the Great Lakes. The hotter lake water heats the chilly air above it, inflicting the air to select up moisture, and as this moist air strikes over land and cools, it condenses and falls as snow.

The company warned that “lake effect snow is often very localized, with conditions varying from safe to dangerous across just a few miles,” urging residents to not drive throughout sure occasions and areas underneath the anticipated circumstances.

Areas of Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana, are anticipated to be hit by heavy snow and excessive winds, which is able to mark among the first snow this season.

What to Know

NWS warned in a Sunday morning forecast that “moderate to heavy lake effect snow is expected downwind of the Lakes” noting that it’s going to begin over the Upper Great Lakes first after which move south over the Lower Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and Central Appalachians by the night.

In areas across the Great Lakes, a winter storm warning is in impact from 11 a.m. ET Sunday morning till 7 p.m. ET Monday night, with anticipated excessive winds as much as 30 miles per hour in addition to important snowfall.

The climate company famous that the Chicago metro space might obtain “between 6-12 inches of snow with isolated higher amounts possible, while Marquette could see over a foot of snow by Tuesday morning.”

The NWS Chicago workplace acknowledged that “lake effect snow will be intense” within the counties bordering Lake Michigan, “with snow rate >3″/hr and frequent lightning/thunder.” In a submit, the satellite tv for pc workplace suggested residents to not journey in the regions surrounding Lake Michigan. The department warned of harmful journey circumstances because of the lake impact snow which is of concern for “untreated roads, and particularly bridges and overpasses” that may “turn into slick and dangerous.”

In northern Indiana, similar snow levels between 5 and 11 inches are expected.

The NWS warns residents about difficult “hazardous conditions” that may impact travel and commute routes. “During lake effect snow, the weather can vary from bands of locally heavy snow to dry weather just a few miles away. Visibilities can also vary greatly. Be prepared for rapid changes in weather, visibility, and road conditions.”

In parts of Michigan, the service issued a winter weather advisory until 7 pm Sunday evening that warns “a burst of snow is possible this afternoon along the lakeshore. Quick accumulations up to 4 inches are possible.”

What People Are Saying

Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications post on its official X account on Sunday: “If you plan to travel tonight or tomorrow, keep your emergency car kit stocked with food, blankets, & other supplies in case you get stranded & need to wait for help.”

NWS Marquette said in an X post Sunday morning: “Lake impact snow showers will proceed to shift west via this night.”

AccuWeather wrote in an X post on Sunday: “The season’s first lake-effect snow will fireplace up from the Great Lakes to the Appalachians as Arctic air plunges south, bringing the earliest flakes in years for some places.”