A strong weather pattern is developing in the Great Lakes and interior Northeast states, bringing multiple rounds of lake-effect snow until at least midweek, according to AccuWeather experts. The initial storm, carrying frigid Arctic air from Canada and gusty winds over the warmer lake waters, is moving eastward through the beginning of the week. Snow around the Great Lakes will continue into Monday, followed by a fresh round of lake-effect snow starting Monday evening.
AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham explained, “As a storm moves through the Great Lakes region, it will trigger more lake-effect snow downwind of the lakes over the coming days. Significant snow accumulation, potentially reaching several feet, is expected downwind of Lakes Huron, Erie, and Ontario between Monday and Wednesday night, creating hazardous travel conditions.”
The highest snowfall totals through midweek, possibly exceeding a foot, are forecasted for areas like the Keweenaw Peninsula, Porcupine Mountains, and stretches between Munising and Whitefish Point in Michigan along Lake Superior. Intense snow showers and squalls could reduce visibility to less than a half or quarter mile in some areas, with snowfall rates of 1-3 inches per hour in the heaviest bands.
Overnight temperatures in the teens and single digits are anticipated across the Midwest, Ohio Valley, and interior Northeast, while subzero lows, dropping as low as negative 20s Fahrenheit, are expected in the Dakotas, Wisconsin, and parts of Iowa. Wind gusts, combined with cold temperatures, could result in AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures plummeting to -30 degrees or lower.
There’s also a potential for snow showers extending into the Interstate 95 corridor by Tuesday, possibly affecting visibility and road conditions. Despite colder temperatures in January, the lakes still have relatively low ice coverage, with higher concentrations on some western shorelines and smaller areas like Saginaw Bay, Lake St. Clair, and far western Lake Erie.
Buckingham noted, “Although lake-effect snow events typically weaken later in winter, the current conditions suggest another significant event due to the lakes’ low ice coverage and above-average temperatures.”
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