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FXUS63 KGRR 250929 CCA
AFDGRR
Area Forecast Discussion...CORRECTED
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
429 AM EST Sun Jan 25 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Snow in Southern Michigan Today
- Lake Effect Snow Showers Monday
- Additional Snow Accumulation and Breezy Tuesday
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 415 AM EST Sun Jan 25 2026
Three phases of impactful snow in quick succession in the short
term through Tuesday, not even counting the continuing cold with
some lingering lake effect snow Wed through Fri...
- Snow in Southern Michigan Today
On the northern fringe of the significant multi-region winter
storm, isentropic lift above 700 mb and embedded transient fgen
bands near the top of a deep saturated DGZ will produce light to
briefly moderate snow mostly south of Holland, Grand Rapids, and
Alma. Good model agreement for 1 to 3 inches in the vicinity of a
St Joseph to Lansing line, and 3 to 5 inches southeast of Battle
Creek-Mason. NBM probabilities give southeast Jackson county about
a 60-70 percent chance of 6 inch totals assuming 17:1 ratio, and
the mean of the HREF also approaches 6 inches in southeast
Jackson. Greatest opportunity for over a half-inch per hour
snowfall rates in south-central MI will be from about mid day to
late afternoon, and the majority of the snow is likely to have
fallen by 7 PM. Temperatures will remain cold with highs in the
mid teens.
- Lake Effect Snow Showers Monday
As north winds become increasingly northwest tonight, the mid-
lake convergence band of lake effect snow may be very near the
shoreline of Mason and Oceana counties after 7 PM this evening. A
band of relatively heavy snow showers is likely down much of the
lakeshore by daybreak Monday, given sustained surface convergence
with stronger winds over the lake and lighter winds over Lower
Michigan. The snow showers will spread inland and weaken by
afternoon. HREF mean snow suggests another advisory will need to
be considered for western Allegan and Van Buren, plus western
Mason and Oceana counties, for Monday morning with 3 to locally 6
inches possible. Local snowfall rates there could exceed an inch
per hour with moist convection off the lake ascending through a
saturated DGZ in the low levels.
- Additional Snow Accumulation and Breezy Tuesday
Clipper system with a surface low tracking through Lk Superior to
northern Lk Huron will swing through Tue morning. Ironically, the
"warm" advection side of it occurring Mon night may warrant cold
weather advisories southeast of Grand Rapids, with temperatures
near zero and breezy southwest winds bringing wind chill down to
around 15 below overnight. Lake enhanced snow totaling 1 to 3
inches appears favored near/west of US-131, after midnight Monday
night through afternoon Tue. Winds gusting around 25 mph with
temperatures staying below 20 degrees may result in areas of
blowing/drifting on Tue.
&&
.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 1158 PM EST Sat Jan 24 2026
IFR cigs have begun to infiltrate some TAF sites, GRR and AZO.
Winds have shifted to the Northeast. MVFR has spread to JXN and
BTL. Conditions will continue to deteriorate between 06Z and 09Z
as the weather system continues to pass through Indiana and Ohio.
The worst of the showers will be after 12Z with IFR to LIFR cigs
and vsbys at the southern TAF sites continuing until around 00Z.
Conditions will then slowly improve as the system moves eastward.
VFR should develop between 00Z to 06Z Monday.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 347 PM EST Sat Jan 24 2026
Bitterly cold temperatures will continue to increase the ice forming
on our rivers. An ice jam has developed along the Muskegon River
near Bridgeton and Newaygo as of Saturday Afternoon. Observations
suggest the ice jam is beginning to stabilize but water fluctuations
may continue for at least the next 6-12 hours. The ongoing flood
advisory has been extended until Sunday Evening across this area.
Most other trouble spots for ice jams are already mostly or
completely frozen over. However, river ice is notoriously
unpredictable, and the rarity of our ongoing cold snap may create
additional minor ice jam issues in places that don`t typically have
to deal with river ice. The bottom line is that when we expect very
unusual cold conditions, it`s not unreasonable to expect some very
unusual river ice issues somewhere. Water levels around ice jams can
go up/down much faster than usual, so anyone living near a river
should pay extra attention to water levels over the next few days
and have a plan to respond if conditions change quickly.
&&
.GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MI...Winter Weather Advisory until 10 PM EST this evening for
MIZ065>067-071>074.
MARINE...None.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...CAS
AVIATION...Ceru
HYDROLOGY...Thomas
NWS GRR Office Area Forecast Discussion