New forecast boosts snow a touch for Lower Michigan

A steady, moderate snow is set to move across Lower Michigan late today into Friday morning. The latest model data shows a slight increase in expected snow.

The snow will start slowly and lighten for the first few hours. Snow should begin by mid-afternoon on the west side of Lower Michigan and early evening on the east side of Lower Michigan.

This will not be the type of snow system that puts down a heavy one inch of snow in the first hour. It will take three to six hours for the first inch to fall in any location.

I’d call it a two to four inch snow for a swath right through the middle of Lower Michigan. The snow will taper off to an inch or two from I-94 southbound. Northern Lower Michigan will still have at least two to four inches with this system as well.

The total snowfall forecast map also shows some lake improvement for locations in northeastern Lower Michigan, the eastern tip of the Thumb and the Traverse City area.

Here is the latest model forecast which is usually the most accurate in this type of situation. This is model data from 7 this morning.

You may see a solid area of ​​two to four inches from north of Grand Rapids to Flint and northward. South of that line will get one to two inches of snow. You can also see the spotty six to nine inch forecast for the northeast coastline of Lower Michigan and the Grand Traverse region.

Here are some snow totals by different times in the storm system, starting with how much we can expect by 8 p.m. 19 today. There won’t be much snow until late in the evening.

Central and northern Lower Michigan can brace for a blanket of snow that could stay on the ground until Christmas. Far southern Lower Michigan will be really uncertain about snow being left on the ground by Christmas Day.

Friday morning will have smooth travels and it will take you extra time to get to your destinations.