Winter weather alerts have been issued for parts of seven states as lake-effect snow is expected to return to the Great Lakes region. The National Weather Service has issued advisories for California, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming, with warnings in place for California and Michigan. The cold airflow over Lake Superior is promoting lake-effect snow in the west, with temperatures dropping to 3-7 degrees Fahrenheit. This weather phenomenon is caused by cold air picking up moisture from warm bodies of water, with the Clipper system bringing cold air down from Canada in the Great Lakes region.
The Great Lakes region has already experienced several bouts of lake-effect snow this winter, with up to three feet of snow falling in January. While snowfall is expected to be fairly light across the region, up to three inches is possible under cloud bands, with localized higher totals. Michigan’s Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties could see up to eight inches of snow, with heavier amounts in higher terrains. Winds may reach up to 35 miles an hour, causing blowing snow. In Houghton County, up to 10 inches of snow are expected, with 13 inches in higher terrains.
A frontal system moving southwest is bringing unsettled weather to the West, with locally heavy snow possible in mountain ranges. Wintry precipitation is expected to push into the Plains and reach the Great Lakes region by Saturday. In California, a low-pressure system approaching the coast will combine with an atmospheric river, bringing the threat of excessive rain and flash flooding. In the Sierra Nevada mountains, up to 10 inches of snow is predicted, with winds gusting up to 45 miles an hour.
Snowfall is also forecasted in the mountain ranges of southern Oregon, Utah, and western Wyoming, with accumulations reaching up to 15 inches in some areas. Yellowstone National Park could see up to 16 inches of snow, while northern Idaho and western Montana may expect up to six inches of snow above 3,000 feet. The western states have already faced several bouts of snowfall this winter, with atmospheric river storms bringing heavy snowfall to the region. California’s Pineapple Express naturally brings an atmospheric river from the subtropics.
Overall, winter weather alerts have been issued for parts of seven states as lake-effect snow is set to make a return to the Great Lakes region. The West Coast will also experience another atmospheric river storm late in the season. Residents in these areas should be prepared for heavy snowfall, strong winds, and potential flash flooding. The National Weather Service continues to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed to ensure the safety of individuals in the affected regions.
