Spring Sprung Away...

Good Morning.

Spring still is nowhere in sight.  We have cold, gray conditions with periods of snow from the lake-effect snow machine persisting at this hour.  Here's a look at the Grand Rapids NEXRAD radar showing those snow bands...

Grand Rapids NEXRAD Reflectivity

Let's dive right into it and see what we have going on for the next several days:

SUMMARY:  Not a whole lot changes for the next few days.  Cold Canadian air is firmly entrenched over us, northwesterly flow off Lake Michigan brings lake effect snow, not much beyond a dusting to minimal accumulation in this area, heavier as you get to US-131 and points west.  Allegedly, Friday and Saturday should see a break from the snow, but with scattered clouds hanging around, I think we still have a shot at more flurries, so I will leave that on the table for the moment, at least through Friday morning.  Perhaps we can revisit that and lift a mention of snow out of the picture for awhile.  Temperatures stay chilly into early next week, and we don't get anywhere close to average until the latter part of the week.  Average high this time of year is 49 degrees, and you can forget about that for awhile, I'm afraid to say.

SNOW:  Still too cold to change this section to precipitation or rain.  Not a whole lot going on besides what we've seen the last couple of days, with the lake effect snow banding bringing snow, then a break with maybe a peek of sunshine.  Forecast models typically don't do well in this kind of a setup much beyond telling you that "I think it will snow."  That's why I am keeping a mention of flakes around for a bit longer than the models are saying.  The good news is that after Saturday we should have a break in this pattern and variable clouds.  Early next week a surface low south us, through southern Indiana and Ohio.  I don't think we get anything out of that judging on what's out there data wise today, but I'll check it again and see if the forecast data starts pushing the track further north.  If it does, watch for snow next week.

SEVERE WEATHER:  Nothing even close to us the next three days.  A small pocket out where you'd expect it this time of year, TX/OK.  I will say that if you are traveling down to the Gulf Coast and Deep South on the 23rd, watch yourself.  The Storm Prediction Center is forecasting a shot at severe weather all the way from Florida to Texas along the Gulf, and that extends a couple of hours inland across the board.  Here's the map:

Storm Prediction Center Severe Outlook - Valid 8 AM Saturday March 23rd\

We'll keep an eye on that and see what SPC thinks about the situation in the next day or so.

Here's a look at the cold air hanging tough throughout a good chunk of the nation:

And the forecast for Jackson and surrounding areas including Michigan Center and Sandstone Township goes like this:

Today, cloudy, continued cold, periods of flurries or light snow will persist, with a maybe peek of sun between snow bands - little to no snow accumulation expected.  High only 32, wind WNW 7-14 MPH, brings wind chills into the mid 20's.

Tonight, clouds linger, along with the lake effect snow bands, nighttime low 18, wind W 5-10 MPH, wind chills around 10.

Friday, still more lake-effect flurries, mainly cloudy, but a few more breaks in the clouds, a touch milder, high 34, wind NW 5-10 MPH.

Friday night, flurries should taper off, leaving some passing clouds, cold, lows roll back to near 20, wind chills to around 14.  Wind N 6-12 MPH.

Saturday, mainly clear skies, milder, high 41.

Sunday, sunny to start, then increasing clouds with a chance of some flurries late, not as mild, high 36.

Monday, cloudy skies, the pattern from the prior week returns with some flurries or a bit of light snow possible, high 40.

Tuesday, continued cloudy, more flurries or light snow, high 41.

Wednesday, a mix of clouds and sunshine, milder, high 43.

There's a look at your forecast for the next six days, I do hope that you have a great day!  Blessings.