textproduct: Grand Rapids

KEY MESSAGES

- Rain this Evening into Friday

- Snow this Weekend

- Rain/Snow Chances into Next Week

DISCUSSION

Issued at 257 PM EST Thu Jan 8 2026

- Rain this Evening into Friday

The low pressure system over eastern Kansas will continue to shift northeast bringing a round of rain and a few rumbles of thunder late this afternoon into Friday. There will be plenty of synoptic support with this system as it approaches with upper level divergence, positive vorticity advection, warm air advection, and a strong 60-70kt low level jet.

As mentioned before precipitable water values will be around 1 in the north to 1.2 across southern Michigan which is above the climatological max. A band of 1-1.5 inches of rain is possible while most areas see less than an inch. Rain will gradually end Friday morning and may mix with some snow north of M-20. The inversion will prevent winds from reaching Advisory levels, however gusts around 40 mph are expected to develop after sunrise and continue into the early afternoon. There is a chance some stronger gusts could mix down to the surface with the rain and any thunderstorm.

- Snow this Weekend

Another shortwave trough swings through Saturday bringing a round of snow to the area. There has been a slight trend downward in amounts, however still looking like an Advisory level snowfall along the lakeshore Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning. The probability of 2 or more inches of snow is 70 percent or greater along and west of US-131. As snow transitions more to lake effect Sunday morning, most of the accumulations will be focused in southwest Michigan. Northwest winds pick up on the backside of the low with northwest winds gusting around 20-30 mph during the day Sunday with gusts along the lakeshore potentially to 35 mph. Highs over the weekend will be in the low to mid 30s with lows in the 20s.

- Rain/Snow Chances into Next Week

Within the upper level flow there is not clear prolonged dry break as we see several shortwave troughs move through the region bringing with it rain/snow chances. At this time precipitation is more likely Tuesday into Wednesday with dry conditions Monday. Highs will be in the 30s with lows in the 20s before becoming colder Thursday.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 1234 PM EST Thu Jan 8 2026

VFR conditions to start the period will go downhill over the next 6 hours as a large and fast-moving storm moves into the Great Lakes region. This weather system has already pushed a strong warm front northward through Southwest Michigan, with winds a few thousand feet above ground level already climbing past the 30 to 40 kt range. By this evening, low-level wind shear will be widespread in the 50+ kt range out of the southwest at all locations, with rounds of rain showers moving through the area. This will bring conditions down to IFR and possibly even LIFR at times through the night. Some of the gusty winds will eventually be working down to the surface, but the strongest winds will remain aloft with LLWS conditions continuing through Friday morning. By mid-morning on Friday, winds shift to the west and winds slowly decrease as temperatures once again drop and cigs likely improve only to MVFR.

GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MI...None. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 7 PM this evening to 7 PM EST Friday for LMZ844>849.