A Clip Or Two Of Snow...

Good Afternoon!

Gray, damp and dreary in South Central Michigan - at least the deep freeze isn't on though.  We'll be getting a visit from the Clippers in the next couple of days, as the upper air pattern resets itself a couple of times.  That means some clouds and a couple of shots of snow for the area - let's have a closer look after the break...

SEASONABLY COLD TODAY:  Cloudy skies in the area and fairly mild temperatures for this time of year, have a look at the current observations around the Midwest...

Readings into the 40's once you get out of the clouds in Indiana and Illinois.  A bit of snow in northern Michigan with the readings below freezing.

FAIRLY STEADY PATTERN, WITH CLIPPERS:  You've heard me mention the Alberta Clippers in past winters. That's upper disturbances that ride down the back side of a ridge that's in the western half of the US, and they aren't bona fide low pressure systems, but they do cause enough disturbance that they typically will bring their own snow with them (not a lot falls), or they get some help from the lake effect with northwest wind blowing across Lake Michigan and then they add their precipitation load to whatever snow is produced from the lake effect snow machine (this is where you can get some decent amounts in the snow box).  I'm seeing two in the next week.  A very weak one tomorrow, and another one on Friday night into Saturday.  Snowfall for each event shouldn't be much, maybe an inch on the high side.  Have a look at this map from the Weather Prediction Center...

As you can see here, about a third of an inch of liquid precip expected between now and Saturday, so snowfall shouldn't be a major issue for South Central Michigan...

MIDWEEK STORM NEXT WEEK?:  No hype, not sounding the alarm yet.  Just telling you what I see in the forecast data.  The GFS forecast model wants to bring a beefy bona fide low right over lower Michigan south of a Manistee/Port Huron line.  It's 10 days out so this WILL change.  But if perchance GFS is onto something and it plays out as advertised, that will be a pretty sizable storm that will create fresh headaches for you.  I'll keep an eye on it and see what's developing.

Here's the forecast:

Tonight - Cloudy, some light snow, up to about an inch of new accumulation can't be ruled out, seasonably cold, lows near 21, NW winds turn NE 5-10 MPH.

Tomorrow - Continued overcast and colder, high only 31, wind NNE 3-7 MPH.

Tuesday Night - Clouds persist, another round of light snow possible, again, a coating to an inch tops, lows near 20.

Wednesday - Mainly cloudy, just the mention of a few snowflakes, chilly, high 27.

Thursday - A mix of clouds and sun, continued cold, high 28.

Friday - Back to cloudy skies, a bit warmer, high 35.

Saturday - Mainly cloudy, perhaps an occasional peek of sun, high 37.

There's your forecast, I hope that you have a great day!  Blessings.