113
FXUS63 KGRR 301936
AFDGRR
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
236 PM EST Tue Dec 30 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Accumulating Snow This Evening into Wednesday Night
- Quieter for Late Week into Weekend
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 236 PM EST Tue Dec 30 2025
- Accumulating Snow This Evening into Wednesday Night
Two quick hitting Canadian clipper systems move through the Great
Lakes this evening into Wednesday night, each providing a bout of
some accumulating snow to the region. Surface observations across MN
and WI this afternoon indicate light snow is falling at many sites.
While mid level WV imagery is not that impressive across the
Midwest, 12z model guidance is showing a slightly more impressive
steepness to the 500mb trough and associated PVA ahead of it as
compared to yesterday`s guidance. The combination of mid level lift,
some light snow falling from the cloud deck upstream, and
preexisting lake effect clouds across Lower MI will result in
modest lake enhanced snow as this feature moves through tonight.
1000-700mb RH values look solid with 3-6 ubar/s of lift in the
925-850mb layer across the lakeshore tonight and stretching toward
US 131. This is not major lift by any means but enough to aid in
snow production. Actual lift within the DGZ is weak, so hourly
snowfall rates won`t be significant. 12z QPF from high resolution
CAMs is suggesting 0.05"-0.15" through 12z Wednesday, but with
18:1-20:1 SLRs. This should yield 1"-3" of snow along and west of
US 131 but could also stretch a bit further east potentially.
A lull in lake effect snow intensity is expected Wednesday
morning before picking up again midday through the afternoon. The
second upper wave moves in Wednesday afternoon and as the mid
level lift arrives there also looks to be better lift within the
DGZ. At the surface, a cold front will be pushing through the
region in the 18z Wed to 03z Thu time frame. Surface convergence
along the front may provide a short burst of heavier snowfall as
it pushes through. Additionally, WNW to NW wind gusts may exceed
25 mph which is enough to provide some risk for blowing snow
mainly across the lakeshore but a nonzero threat exists inland as
well. Model QPF near and west of US 131 is indicating another
0.10"-0.20" from 12z Wed through 12z Thu. Ratios continue to look
like 20:1 via the Cobb SLR approach. Another 1"-4" looks likely
for this region, impacting New Year`s Eve travel. This will yield
storm total snow amounts along the lakeshore of 3"-6" (isolated
spots over 6") from this evening through Wednesday night and 2"-4"
along US 131 (locally over 4") for grand totals. As a result,
will be issuing a Winter Weather Advisory for the first two rows
of counties adjacent to the lake from 21z today through 12z
Thursday. East of there, grand totals of 1"-3" are expected but
some adjustments to headlines may be needed (ie. possible
inclusion of Osceola and Calhoun depending on trends).
- Quieter for Late Week into Weekend
NW flow pattern over the Great Lakes may help keep flurries and
light snow showers going at times for the late week period into
the weekend, though no significant accumulations are expected and
areas away from the lake will likely be dry much of the time.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 1216 PM EST Tue Dec 30 2025
Light snow is ongoing this afternoon, with intermittent heavier
showers at AZO/BTL. Radar shows widespread system snow upstream
across Wisconsin with obs showing IFR conditions across the
region. This snow arrives late this afternoon into West Michigan
causing conditions to deteriorate to IFR. Conditions improve to
MVFR late tonight for a time as snow transitions to more lake
driven, deteriorating again Wednesday morning as an approaching
system causes increasing intensity of snow showers. Gusts to 20
knots from the west are expected this afternoon and again
Wednesday afternoon.
&&
.GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MI...Winter Weather Advisory until 7 AM EST Thursday for MIZ037-038-
043-044-050-056-057-064-065-071-072.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 7 PM EST Wednesday for LMZ844>849.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...Hoving
AVIATION...Thomas
NWS GRR Office Area Forecast Discussion