Dylan's Weather

**BLIZZARD WARNING for Mason, Lake, Oceana and Newaygo through Thursday afternoon**

** WINTER STORM WARNING for most of the viewing area through tomorrow morning **

**Blizzard/Near Blizzard Conditions can be expected at times especially once the storm exits the area later today**

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Phase 1 of this storm has been affecting us since last night and will do so through mid afternoon. Phase 2 occurs this evening and tonight through Thursday.

Snow totals have been just about on target from what our weather team predicted. Anywhere from 6″-10″ of snow has fallen in most areas (especially in the L.P.) thus far. Granted, there are some areas that have seen a little bit less but overall, the predicted amounts have been on target.

We have also seen some wind gusts over 50-60mph earlier this morning.

Please continue sending us below your storm reports and snow totals with the time of measurement!

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Now, for the forecast.

Looking at the late morning data, we will see the center of the storm system move from Muskegon to Oscoda. Right under the path of the low, the winds will be much lighter. However on the N and NW side of the low, the winds will be strong. Once this system exits the region later today, the winds will ramp up in all areas once again. And as the temperatures cool this evening, the snow falling will be fluffier, hence it will be easier to whip around by the strong winds.

Remember, blizzard to near blizzard conditions will be likely at times. And heading into the nighttime hours, travel will be absolutely hazardous.

Winds today in the north will be E/NE/N 15-30mph and gusty. Near NW and W lower Michigan, the winds will increase more this afternoon as the storm exits. Winds will be N/NW 15-30mph and gusty. Our SW areas (where the Blizzard Warning is in effect) will see the strongest winds this afternoon, evening and night. W/NW winds 15-35mph and gusty here.

Temperatures tonight will be in the teens, so yes, it will be drastically colder. This will make the roads that much more slick especially on the backroads where the road crews might have taken a pass scraping down the road.

The concerns will be heavy snowsqualls (very intense across NW lower Michigan and Chippewa/Northern Luce counties in the U.P.) very late tonight and through all of Thursday. Even areas west of US-131 will see some heavy snowshowers. Highs will only be in the teens Thursday.

Friday will be interesting with partly cloudy skies for are interior sections but we will see the chance for see a few very heavy squalls shaping up in Chippewa and Luce Counties in the U.P. and NW lower Michigan. Highs will only be in the teens.

Keep it tuned to 9&10 Weather for the latest updates on part two of this storm system.

-Meteorologist Jim Lehocky

***Major Winter Storm still on track to hit the state Wednesday. We will start to feel the effects of it this evening. Near Blizzard Conditions are possible at times later tonight and all of Wednesday into Wednesday night***

***Winter Storm Warnings are in effect starting this evening through at least Wednesday night/Thursday morning***

***Please see the Winter Weather Alert graphic on 9and10news.com***

Just a note of interest. Exactly 14 years ago, we had a storm system and the lake effect behind it give Sault Ste Marie nearly 5 feet of snow over a few day period!! [Remember that storm??] While this current storm is potent, I do not expect to see 5′ of snow with it!!

Snow will increase from SW to NE later evening and tonight. Winds will pick up, as well, from the E/SE 15-30mph and gusty after midnight into the mid-morning hours.

Amounts will be quite heavy from south to north with the U.P. perhaps seeing the least amount of snow overnight tonight.

5″-9″+ could fall south of a Petoskey-Alpena line by daybreak with the heaviest of the snow possibly south of M-72 all the way to M-20. Some rain/sleet/snow mix could damper some accumulations in the Mt. Pleasant/Alma/Midland areas, but it still should be a mess. The U.P. by daybreak could see 3″-6″” but with the heaviest of snow to arrive around and after daybreak into the midday hours.

Lows tonight will be in the 20′s with a few SE areas around 30 degrees. But remember, those winds will be howling later tonight from the east.

The storm tracks on through the lower peninsula Wednesday late afternoon. This will give northern areas (north of M-72 into the U.P.) the best chance to see the moderate to heavy snow continuing. Winds will still be strong especially north of the low, then again on the SW side near Lake Michigan. North of the storm track, we will see several inches more of accumulating snow. South of it, we still could see a brief period of snow/sleet/rain mix in our SE/E Counties where temps still could be in the lower to middle 30′s.

Plain and simple. Traveling in the state tonight and tomorrow will be hazardous. While snow amounts are always questionable and hard to forecast, this will be a high impact storm even if we see a bit less in the snowfall totals.

Behind this system for late Wednesday night and Thursday and continuing into Friday we will see strong W/NW winds creating blowing and drifting of the snow that is on the ground. But we will also see some solid lake snows off of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan.

Please travel with your daytime driving lights/headlights on for safety with the expected snowfall.

**Please pass along any weather information including snow reports by entering it below!**

Keep it tuned to 9&10 Weather for the latest in storm updates!

-Meteorologist Jim Lehocky