The winter storm watch covers the period from 7 A.M. Thursday, November 17th until 1am. Saturday, November 19. Heavy snow is very likely to continue into Saturday and Saturday night. The National Weather Service is ending the winter storm at 1 a.m. Saturday just because it doesn’t warn of any weather 48 hours or more into the future. Here is the winter storm watch area, shaded in blue. Pink-shaded Berrien and Cass counties are already under a winter storm warning for the current heavy lake-effect snow. The winter storm watch is for Ottawa, Kent, Ionia, Allegan, Barry, Eaton, Van Buren, Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties. This includes the cities of Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Grand Haven, Jenison, Ionia, Holland, Hastings, Charlotte and South Haven. Winter storm timing gives you a good idea of when snow is expected to develop and then become heavy. Thursday morning will be when the snow will increase in coverage. By Thursday afternoon, the Grand Rapids area will be trapped in a fairly extensive lake effect snow. Snow should be heavy at times Friday and Friday night. The snow should continue Saturday and Saturday night, even though the current winter storm only lasts through Friday night. Total snow accumulations in the winter storm watch area should be six inches or more by Friday night. The journey can be very difficult. The snow will be heavy enough to affect the Thursday and Friday morning and evening commute. Here is the total snowfall forecast from Wednesday morning. This is an amount of snowfall throughout the snow season. Total snowfall forecast as of 9:00 AM. Wednesday, November 16 until 7:00 am. Saturday, November 19. Watch for detailed adjustments to the snowfall forecast as wind direction and the location of the heaviest snowfall become more apparent. Get ready for ultimate winter driving conditions around southwestern Lower Michigan.
