Winter Storm Timeline: When To Expect Heaviest Snowfall In MI

MICHIGAN — A powerful winter storm is expected to hit southeast Michigan on Thursday and Friday with blizzard-like conditions that could cause widespread power outages and make travel nearly impossible, the National Weather Service warned.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw and Wayne counties. The warning is in effect from Thursday evening through Saturday evening.

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The winter storm watch will likely be upgraded to a winter storm warning or blizzard warning, as forecasters warned some counties in southeast Michigan could see more than 6 inches of snow with wind gusts up to 55 miles per hour blowing snow across roadways.

AccuWeather reported that 6 to 10 inches of snow is possible between Thursday and Saturday.

Storm Starts With Rain Thursday

Forecasters said the winter storm will start Thursday by bringing mostly rain to southeast Michigan during the early afternoon hours, with temperatures in the 40s. Most of the moisture was expected to start sometime after 5 p.m.

The rain will then transition into a wintry mix through the evening and nighttime hours before shifting into snow overnight, as temperatures begin falling into the 20s, according to the National Weather Service.

Heaviest Snowfall Thursday Night/Friday

Snow will begin falling in southeast Michigan late Thursday into Friday, with the heaviest amounts coming down in the morning and afternoon hours with temperatures dropping into the 20s, forecasters warned.

Powerful wind gusts reaching between 50-60 miles per hour will also begin picking up Friday afternoon, creating the possibility of white-out conditions on the roads with zero visibility, forecasters warned.

The strong winds could quickly rack up snow totals across southeast Michigan with the highest accumulations in the west and northwest areas, such as Jackson, Washtenaw, Livingston and northern Oakland counties, forecasters warned.

Snow in southeast Michigan should subside by Friday morning, but snow squalls and lake effect snow could linger into Saturday morning, the National Weather Service said.

Dangerous Cold Saturday

As the powerful wind gusts and snow die down late Friday/early Saturday, a blast of arctic air will settle in the region with daytime highs in the teens and wind chills reaching -15 degrees, the National Weather Service said.

Forecasters also warned travel will be difficult Saturday morning as breezy conditions will blow snow across roadways, creating the possibility for slick roads. With temperatures so cold, the snowy roads could turn to ice, forecasters said.

The cold air will linger into Christmas Day, keeping temperatures in the teens and wind chills in the single digits, the National Weather Service said.