The lake effect is picking up this morning in Otsego. Snow and cold will continue today, producing hazardous travel conditions. A burst of heavier snow is expected between 600 a.m. and 100 p.m. today, so if you are traveling, you will need to slow down. Expect slippery travel conditions as temperatures will not rise out of the teens today. Northwest winds of 10 to 20 mph will drive wind chill values down into the single digits.
Winter Weather Advisory
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST WEDNESDAY... * WHAT...Lake effect snow. Total snow accumulations between 3 and 6 inches with locally higher amounts. * WHERE...Portions of southwest and west central Michigan. * WHEN...Until 1 AM EST Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Visibility and road conditions may change rapidly over short distances in lake effect snow. Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Tuesday morning and evening commutes.
Snowfall Forecast

Lake effect snow will continue today with a burst of heavier snow for the Tuesday morning commute. The heaviest snow will fall from Holland and Grand Rapids south through South Haven and Kalamazoo. Given the cold temperatures today in the teens travel will be hazardous due to icy conditions. Low visibility can be expected at times in heavier snow bursts. Take it slow in ice and snow!
Weather History
1893: A long siege of arctic cold drops the temperature below zero for 15 out of the first 19 days of January at Lansing. This is the coldest day of the month with a low of 16 below zero.
1932: Grand Rapids is in the midst of a stretch of six days with temperatures above freezing during the warmest January on record.
2005: Two days of heavy rain and high temperatures in the 50s is followed by a stretch of arctic cold, causing massive ice jams to form on the Grand River. The ice jams result in devastating flooding of Robinson Township in Ottawa County. Flooding also occurs on stretches of the Muskegon, Thornapple, Flat, and Kalamazoo rivers.
2015: Arctic air and clear skies allow temperatures to drop well below zero. Grand Rapids sets a record low for the second consecutive day with a low of 13 degrees below zero.
On January 14, 2009, the region was in the middle of a five-day arctic outbreak. Flint set a record reaching -19 degrees. Detroit was as low as -3, while Saginaw was -10.
Also on January 14, 2004, a “super-clipper” brought heavy amounts of snow across portions of Southeast Lower Michigan. Heaviest amounts included, Port Huron 12.0″, Grand Blanc 11.0″, and 10.9″ at the NWS White Lake. Other areas across the northern/western suburbs of Detroit saw between 7.0″-10.0″, while Detroit Metro Airport received just 4.7″.
Forecast Discussion
- Cold with lake effect snow showers through tonight A strong shortwave will bring a significant increase in lake effect snow showers this morning. Heaviest snow showers will develop between around 10Z and 16Z today near to between the I-96 and I-94 corridors where strong low level convergence will result in robust omegas thru the dgz. Inversion heights and moisture will also get a boost with the arrival of this shortwave. Fairly brisk west winds will carry the les bands well inland and bands will gradually become more nw to se oriented by late morning as low level winds veer nw after passage of a trof. Our existing headlines look excellent and will remain unchanged. The snow showers will gradually taper off tonight into Wednesday. - Light snow Wednesday night into Thursday Light snow will redevelop Wednesday night in a waa regime as sfc winds back to the sw. Snow accumulations with this system look to be quite light with fairly minimal impacts expected. However snow accumulations will likely be enhanced a bit in closer proximity to Lake MI. High temps by late this week will reach into the 30s. - Very cold Sunday into early next week A cold front will move through Friday night with strong caa to follow as h8 temps fall to -18 to -20 C by 12Z Sun and all the way to -24 to -26 C by 00Z Tue. Therefore high temps will struggle to reach the teens by Sunday and will struggle to get out of the single digits above zero by Mon/Tue. We expect some lake effect snow showers this weekend but by early next week it will mainly just be flurries or very light snow showers with the arctic very dry airmass firmly entrenched in our area.
January = below normal temps and above average snowfall! Who said it has been a mild winter and a dry January? Incredible!
GR is now over 44 inches of snow! Incredible winter so far! Keep it coming!
We now have 20.2 inches of snow for the month and 43.6 inches since November 21. We had 24.9 inches last season during the same period. We have already surpassed last years 33 inches.
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST
WEDNESDAY…
* WHAT…Snow. Additional snow accumulations 2 to 5 inches and
locally higher amounts.
* WHERE…Portions of southwest and west central Michigan.
* WHEN…Until 1 AM EST Wednesday.
* IMPACTS…Visibility and road conditions may change rapidly over
short distances in lake effect snow. Plan on slippery road
conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Tuesday
evening commute.
We had a quick 6-inch snowfall this morning between 6 am and 10 am. I have had my lawn tractor out plowing the past 3 days. This morning I spent 2.5 hours plowing out 3 driveways in the neighborhood. We have 16 degrees currently with light snow falling.
Sounds fantastic!
I might just have to go out on a winter hike in the woods and get pictures of all this beautiful snow
We now have 3″ on the ground. No school closings here either. Again, it’s the light fluffy stuff so it will be easy to shovel. It certainly is pretty outside.
I still have not used the snowblower yet this winter. I now have 6″ on the ground. Once again very easy snow to shovel. The sun is now peaking in and out it has been a while since we have seen the sun.
Slim
Same. I shoveled earlier but has snowed some more. I’ll go back out later today and shovel again. Gotta get exercise when you can this time of year.
I recorded 3” of new snowfall yesterday and overnight and now have 6” on the ground. The overnight low and current temperature is 16 and there is light snow falling.
Slim
GRAND RAPIDS CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR JANUARY 13 2025 The H/L was 29/17 there was 2.4” of snowfall and there was 4” on the ground. There was no sunshine. The highest wind gust was 33 MPH out of the SW. For today the average H/L is 31/19 the record high of 53 was in 1928 the coldest high of 7 was in 1929 the record low of -13 was in 2015 the warmest low of 37 was in 1932. The wettest was 0.89” in 1940 the most snow fall was 7.6” in 2024 the most on the ground was 23” in… Read more »