While December was a fairly active month for snowfall (35" for the month), January and the first few days of February have been just the opposite. No big snowstorms and generally a quiet, uneventful weather pattern. However, that's about to change. Our forecast models for the past few days have been showing (and agreeing) on a strong upper level system coming out of the northern Plains and drifting into the Midwest. This system will link up (or phase) with another low coming up from the Gulf coast. Needless to say, the cold air will be in place and the moisture will be streaming northward from the south. The actual low track will be just south of the Great Lakes across central Illinois, Indiana, and eventually into Ohio. This is a very favorable progression for heavy snow for us!
I've attached our latest computer model forcast for accumulated snow as of Sunday night at 11:00 PM. The light blue areas well north of Grand Rapids amount to about 2"-4". The medium blue (slight purple color) total about 4"-6", and the dark blue from Grand Rapids to the south is 6"-10". There is certainly the possibility of some 12" or more amounts with the fantastic lift this system will have. I would expect 1"-2" snowfall rates per hour at times Tuesday evening and Tuesday night before things start tapering off through the day Wednesday. This will be a long duration event starting Tuesday morning and continuing into Wednesday. A winter storm watch has already been posted for our entire area from Tuesday morning into Wednesday early afternoon. Drive safely and stay tuned to later forecasts!
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