Much of lower Michigan remains under either a Winter Storm Warning or Winter Weather Advisory Thursday (Feb. 17) into Friday (Feb. 18), and now, meteorologists are predicting this week’s storm will shift to a more southern route than expected. Hence, while the Detroit area looked like it would preclude any major show this week, now, the area is expected to get an upwards of 8 inches of snow, as well as other areas throughout the lower portion of the state. Meanwhile, areas there were going to get pummeled will go easy on this storm. Read on for the latest weather update.
A statement released from the National Weather Service states, “Snow will continue to spread north this (Thursday) afternoon and evening from the SE to NW. Snow is expected to be the heaviest now (Thursday afternoon) through 10 p.m. tonight with the highest totals near I-69 and I-94. Flooding/Ice Jams is the other concern as runoff from snowmelt and rain has led to flooded roads and elevated river levels.”
Grand Rapids, Alma and Big Rapids are expected to get just a trace of snow to 3 inches. Lansing is at 3-6 inches and Flint and Kalamazoo are at 3-7 inches. Detroit and Jackson are expected to get 4-8 inches of the white stuff. Areas of most concern, according to the National Weather Service, are the I-69 and I-94 corridors south of Lansing and east of Kalamazoo. View the full maps below.
The good news is that this is expected to be a very short storm, with the snow and ice moving out later on Friday. Next week, it appears Michigan is in line for another snow event, but those projects could change as the day gets closer, so I would just concentrate on this storm for now. At least we’re a few weeks away from March, and that means spring is coming soon- but not before Mother Nature has its way with the Mitten.