textproduct: Grand Rapids

KEY MESSAGES

- Windy with Lake effect snow into Tuesday

- Light burst of Snow Wednesday morning

DISCUSSION

Issued at 233 PM EDT Mon Mar 16 2026

- Windy with Lake effect snow into Tuesday

Surface low center moves northeast and out of southwest Lower Michigan with a weakening deformation axis and area of mid-level frontegnesis swinging through the next few hours, augmented by lake enhancement. Cyclonic flow continues through Tuesday morning with lake effect banding becoming less cellular after sunset. Lake Superior connection and inversion heights around 8 kft should allow for for some heavier bands with inch an hour snowfall rates across the warning area occasionally affecting the advisory area.

Shortwave trough axis moves east Tuesday morning with height rises and subsidence/drying through the afternoon. Inversion heights progged to lower to around 4 kft by Tuesday evening with snow showers tapering off and ending.

- Light burst of Snow Wednesday morning

We will have to watch for the possibility of minor travel impacts Wednesday morning as an area of WAA/isentropic ascent could bring a quick burst of snow. Accumulations at this time expected to be less than an inch for roughly the western half of the forecast area but temperatures will be below freezing and untreated roads may be slippery.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 149 PM EDT Mon Mar 16 2026

Synoptic snow will transition to lake effect snow as colder air flows over the lake. Visibilities will fluctuate between VFR and IFR through the early overnight period at which time winds will begin to diminish and visibilities will improve. As inversion heights fall Tuesday morning, the snow will diminish from east to west.

MARINE

Issued at 233 PM EDT Mon Mar 16 2026

No changes to the headlines. Winds are gusting to 45 knots at Muskegon at 2 pm and we expect gusts to 50 knots through early evening from there to Ludington.

GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MI...Wind Advisory until 11 PM EDT this evening for MIZ037>040- 043>046-050>052-056>059-064>067-071>074. Winter Storm Warning until 11 AM EDT Tuesday for MIZ037-038-043. Winter Weather Advisory until 11 AM EDT Tuesday for MIZ039-044- 045-050-056-057-064-065-071>073. MARINE...Gale Warning until 5 AM EDT Tuesday for LMZ844>846. Heavy Freezing Spray Warning until noon EDT Tuesday for LMZ844>849. Storm Warning until 8 PM EDT this evening for LMZ847>849.