textproduct: Grand Rapids

KEY MESSAGES

- Wintry Mix with Snow in the north today

- Cold weather returns to begin the week

- Warm up through Christmas

DISCUSSION

Issued at 356 AM EST Sat Dec 20 2025

- Wintry Mix with Snow in the north today

Warm air advection this morning and into early afternoon will be followed by a cold front swinging through the region this afternoon and evening. Bands of rain/snow mix with sleet through the northwest will traverse the region early to mid afternoon. This frontal system has much less moisture than yesterday's and the mid level air is much warmer. So any significant snowfall will be along the US 10 corridor with up to an inch possible.

- Cold weather returns to begin the week

Cold air returns again with a strong temperatures gradient drops over the region Saturday night into Sunday. Any snowfall will be through northern lower Michigan so Southern Michigan should remain dry. Lows Sunday and Monday mornings will be in the teens with highs on Sunday in the mid 20s. A warm frontal system will lift into the region Monday. While snow is still expected but it will mainly be along and northward of the I 96 corridor with around a half an inch of accumulations.

- Warm up through Christmas

The previously mentioned warm frontal system will begin the warm up trend that will continue through Christmas and into next weekend. The Max temps on Monday will begin the week around 3 degrees above normal and by Christmas High temps will be around 20 degrees above normal. The forecasted high for Grand Rapids area for Christmas currently is 53F. That would place it in the top 5 warmest Christmas's on record. The warmest Christmas on record for Grand Rapids is 65 in 1982. There remains some question on timing but the zonal flow this week should bring some rain showers midweek with slightly cooler temps into next weekend. However those Max temps will remain above freezing.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 650 AM EST Sat Dec 20 2025

VFR conditions continue today with strong southerly flow today. Lower level wind shear will be the big aviation concern with it LLWS of 50kts through the morning at MKG and GRR As the wind shifts, the LLWS will then shift to affect the southern TAF sites. Strong gusty surface winds will continue throughout the day. Periods of showers with a rain snow mix will bring MVFR cigs and vsbys early this afternoon. Winds go to a lull early this evening, between 00Z to 06Z before picking back up with potential MVFR cigs.

MARINE

Issued at 356 AM EST Sat Dec 20 2025

Winds continue to ramp up as the Gale goes into effect. Based on latest guidance have extended the gale into Saturday night. While there will be a lull, winds will remain transitory with gales possible. Waves will remain around 10 feet through this timeframe. Northwest flow this evening will once again increase winds and waves into Saturday night.

GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MI...None. MARINE...Gale Warning until 1 AM EST Sunday for LMZ844>849.