685 FXUS63 KGRR 271149 AFDGRR Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI 649 AM EST Tue Jan 27 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Snow and Wind Cause Hazardous Travel Conditions Today - Periods of Snow through Friday - Cold Temperatures Continue && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 308 AM EST Tue Jan 27 2026 - Snow and Wind Cause Hazardous Travel Conditions Today Snow continues largely along and north of a South Haven to Alma line early this morning. Upper level divergence with the left exit region of the upper level jet, positive vorticity advection, along with the southwest flow over Lake Michigan will provide a favorable set up for 1 to 3 inches to fall prior to daybreak. Winds will also cause blowing and drifting snow across the area. Snow, blowing snow, and reduced visibilities will impact the morning commute. These impacts may briefly extend eastward as the front moves through later this morning bringing better lift in the low levels as we lose the deeper moisture. Continuing into the day expect lake effect snow to continue within the northwest flow. Large lake surface to 850 mb temperature differences will support lake effect snow with the low level moisture remaining in place and low level instability with favorable lapse rates mixing down stronger winds aloft. These gustier winds will impact snow ratios even with the better saturation in the dendritic growth zone. Additionally moisture will be shallow limiting accumulations during the day with 1 to 2 inches largely west of US-131 and lower amounts to the east. Lake effect snow will continue mainly along the lakeshore tonight. There is a signal that a heavier band could develop in the northwest flow impacting portions of Allegan, Van Buren, and Kalamazoo counties which could warrant and extension of the advisory. - Periods of Snow through Friday 850 mb temperatures remain cold continuing lake effect chances mainly along the lakeshore through the week. We`ll see upticks with synoptic support tonight into Wednesday, Wednesday night into Thursday, and Thursday night into Friday. The signal for deep moisture however remains questionable. Therefore the probabilities of 1 inch or more over a 24 hour period remain 40 percent or lower with the higher probabilities focused in Allegan County. - Cold Temperatures Continue Wind chills are expected to slowly improve this morning as air temperatures warm. However wind chills of 15 below zero remain possible toward daybreak, therefore no changes to the Cold Weather Advisory. Wind chills will be in the single digits below zero through the day and into tonight. With highs in the teens and lows in the single digits above and below zero, wind chills overall are not expected to improve much with values around zero through most of the week. We`ll see another potential for dangerous cold temperatures Thursday night into Friday with lows around 10 below zero and wind chills approaching 20 below zero. && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 649 AM EST Tue Jan 27 2026 Moderate to heavy snowfall is extending from around LWA to BIV to GRR. This area of snow will shift south through the morning as the front moves through with northwest winds by the afternoon. Within this area expect visibilities below a mile and ceilings dropping to around 1000 feet. Winds pick up with the front causing blowing and drifting snow with gusts around 25 to 35 knots. Behind the front lake effect snow will focus along the lakeshore with lake effect bands expected to track inland toward AZO. BTL may be on the edge of lake effect snow through the afternoon and evening. Ceilings will largely be MVFR through the day with IFR to MVFR visibilities within snow. Snowfall amounts will largely be in the 2 to 5 inch range with isolated higher spots. Further east toward LAN and JXN amounts around half inch to an inch are expected. && .GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MI...Winter Weather Advisory until 7 PM EST this evening for MIZ037- 038-043-044-050-056-057-064-065-071-072. Cold Weather Advisory until 9 AM EST this morning for MIZ058-059- 064>067-071>074. MARINE...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...RAH AVIATION...RAH

NWS GRR Office Area Forecast Discussion