A WINTER STORM WARNING AND WATCH is in effect for a number of northern Michigan counties as snow increases Wednesday (particularly Wednesday evening/Thursday morning) before easing early Friday.

WEDNESDAY (DECEMBER 11): Low pressure and associated cold front will pass Wednesday, resulting in occasional snowfall across northern Michigan with heavier snowfall at times. The lake effect snow will really take over as more organized bands of snow arrive later this afternoon into Wednesday night. Highs of 26-32F. NW wind 5-10 mph in the morning increasing to 10-20 mph in the afternoon/evening hours.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: The heaviest snowfall on this stretch will occur after dark on Wednesday evening, but especially after midnight as bands of heavy snow form in the warned counties and visibility is almost impossible.

THURSDAY (DECEMBER 12): This will be by far the coldest day of the week, with highs between 15 and 20 degrees. If you factor in the wind chill, it will be freezing… the wind chill will be in the single digits and even below zero. Lake effect snow continues in the snow belts (heavy at times), with gusty winds and areas of blowing snow and poor visibility. We generally forecast 5 to 10 inches of snow Wednesday through Thursday evening. From Wednesday into Thursday evening we could easily see 18″+ over the snow belts of the Northwest, particularly those in Charlevoix, Antrim, Otsego, Kalkaska and Crawford counties and southwest in the Grand Traverse Bay region into Manistee County. These coastal areas too Visibility will be most affected by gusty winds, blowing snow and drifts from the northwest with gusts up to 30 miles per hour.

FRIDAY (DECEMBER 13): The lake effect snowfall is quickly ending, with some sunshine in places on Friday. Maximum temperatures range between 22 and 26°F.

EXTENDED FORECAST: Another system will move in over the weekend (warmer air arrives) and snow will fall across the region Saturday evening before a chance of showers Sunday morning. Warmer for the weekend with 30s Saturday and 30s to 40s Sunday. Another system arrives on Tuesday and rain should occur at that time.

-Meteorologist Joe Charlevoix