685
FXUS63 KGRR 102346
AFDGRR
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
646 PM EST Sat Jan 10 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Break in Snow This Evening; One More Round Tonight
- Milder Early Next Week With Some Rain Showers Tuesday
- Colder Mid to Late Week with Some Snow Shower Chances
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 238 PM EST Sat Jan 10 2026
- Break in Snow This Evening; One More Round Tonight
A wet snow has been falling across a good portion of the region
since late morning in association with an approaching upper low
(well defined on mid level WV imagery across northern WI) and weak
surface low development across the Lower Peninsula as the lower to
mid levels of the atmosphere are saturated with some lift
throughout the DGZ. Impressive flake size has been observed given
10 ubar/s of lift within the DGZ at times. However, accumulation
efficiency on roads has been held in check given warm antecedent
ground temperatures that have had to be overcome by higher
snowfall rates, though unpaved surfaces look to have 1"-2" of
accumulation in the Advisory area at this time. The scales are now
tipping near and north of Muskegon as steady snow for hours has
helped bring air temperatures down into the 30-32F range and MDOT
RWIS road temps down into the 31F-32F range. This has allowed for
snow to stick to some road surfaces as observed across Oceana and
Mason Counties. Elsewhere, wet snow has largely melted on contact
on hard surfaces or has accumulated to an inch or two on grass.
Further south toward I-94, rain has been the dominant
precipitation type.
A break in the snow is expected this evening before colder air
arrives over the lake and across northern Lower MI. 1000-700mb air
trajectories indicate a W to NW wind shift as low level cold
advection occurs. A period of enhanced moisture and lift in this
layer supports a period of lake enhanced and then, briefly, lake
effect snow from about 03z-15z Sunday. An additional 1"-2",
locally 3", is likely for the lakeshore and U.S. 10 from the
lakeshore to around Reed City. There may be a similar maximum from
South Haven to western Kalamazoo County depending on the band
placement.
- Milder Early Next Week With Some Rain Showers Tuesday
Warmer 850mb temps on the order of 2C-5C arrive by Tuesday ahead
of some longwave troughing that will try to develop across the
region into mid to late week. Rain showers will be the dominant
p-type with amounts looking likely to be around 0.10".
- Colder Mid to Late Week with Some Snow Shower Chances
Deeper longwave troughing exerts itself on Wednesday and this will
lead to a drop in temperatures throughout the day as a cold front
moves through. While there are timing differences in the model
guidance, it is well agreed upon that temperatures ahead of the
front will be in the mid to upper 30s and behind it will fall into
the teens to low 20s with rain changing to snow at some point.
When the front moves through and how quickly temps fall will
dictate associated travel impacts, if any. At this point it is
worth monitoring the potential.
Depending on the model solution, various vort maxes may be
swinging through the Great Lakes between Thursday and the end of
next weekend. Any one of these could help produce enough synoptic
lift to support some lake effect snow. Timing of these features
will be better pinned down as we head through the next few days.
&&
.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 645 PM EST Sat Jan 10 2026
As the front and associated snowfall continues to move eastward,
snowfall has all but ended. MKG has already gone VFR. Most
locations will continue to have MVFR cigs overnight through GRR,
and BTL, among others are varying depending on low cloud
movements. MVFR cigs will linger until a secondary front moves
through early Sunday. This will allow winds to mix down with gusts
as high as 35KTS. Lake enhanced snow showers will move through
early tomorrow with times adjusted in the TAF`s. The northwest
flow will affect MKG first then through to JXN from 09Z until
around 16Z respectively. Have included Prob30 groups due to the
potential for MVFR in snow showers to linger due to NW flow.
Gusty winds will continue through daytime Sunday before winds
subside by 23Z. MVFR cigs should continue through this timeframe,
improving after 00Z Monday.
&&
.MARINE...
Issued at 238 PM EST Sat Jan 10 2026
SCA continues into early Sunday before transitioning to a Gale
Warning as cold NW flow moves over the lake. The latest model
guidance for winds and gusts continues to support the timing of
the Gale Warning on Sunday, so no changes have been made. Beyond
Sunday, waves continue to look active through much of the week
with frequent frontal passages.
&&
.GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MI...Winter Weather Advisory until 1 PM EST Sunday for MIZ037>039-
043>045-050.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 4 AM EST Sunday for LMZ844>849.
Gale Warning from 4 AM to 1 PM EST Sunday for LMZ844>849.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...Hoving
AVIATION...Ceru
MARINE...Hoving
NWS GRR Office Area Forecast Discussion
