MI Winter Storm: Here's When The Snow Will Start Falling

MICHIGAN — A powerful winter storm is expected to roll through Michigan over the next two days, dumping up to 18 inches of snow in parts of the state, according to the National Weather Service.

Snow will start falling around 2 p.m. in southeastern Michigan before moving into the metro Detroit region sometime around 4 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

Peak snowfall in the metro Detroit area will come during the late afternoon and early evening hours, when rates of up to an inch of fresh snow per hour is possible, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters warned Friday's evening commute will be slippery, as gusty winds can create blizzard-like conditions and reduce visibility on the roads to less than one mile at times.

The snow is then expected to shift to rain in the metro Detroit region sometime between 7 and 9 p.m. Friday. The rain is then expected to shift back to snow around 2 a.m. and continue snowing throughout Saturday morning, when another 1-3 inches is possible, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters expect a total of 2-6 inches of fresh snow in the metro Detroit area by Saturday, though rain can cut down on those totals.

Areas closer to the shoreline in eastern Wayne, Monroe and St. Clair counties should see less snowfall, while areas farther north may not see any rain at all, meaning they'll likely see around 5 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service.

Strong winds with gusts reaching up to 50 miles per hour will move into the metro area late Friday and bleed over into Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters warned the winds have the potential to knock-down snow covered tree limbs, causing scattered power outages throughout the area, according to the National Weather Service.

Arctic air will then move into the region, pushing temperatures into the single digits with subzero wind chills this weekend into early next week, according to the National Weather Service.

Snow began falling in western Michigan early Friday morning. Most parts of the region, including areas around Grand Rapids, are expected to see between 8 and 13 inches of fresh snow by Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters warned those areas can also see blizzard-like conditions, with wind gusts reaching up to 50 miles per hour. Areas around Ludington can see up to 18 inches of fresh snow by Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

More snow is expected in northern and central Michigan, where forecasters said at least 10 inches in likely in most areas. Some areas, such as Alpena, can see up to 18 inches of fresh snow by Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

Those areas in northern Michigan will also see blizzard-like conditions with winds reaching up to 60 miles per hour near the Lake Huron shoreline, reducing road visibility to near zero, making some roads impassible in the region, according to the National Weather Service.