textproduct: Grand Rapids

KEY MESSAGES

- Winter certainly hanging on Today and Friday

- Quieter weather over the weekend

- A bit warmer next week

DISCUSSION

Issued at 346 AM EST Thu Jan 29 2026

- Winter certainly hanging on Today and Friday

Winter just does not want to give up. We have had some snow overnight here at NWS Grand Rapids which now makes day 16 of at least a trace of snow. Yesterday we extended and expanded the Winter Weather Advisory along the lakeshore and cannot argue with that decision. In fact, we have extended the headline through 100pm. Signals with the ongoing lake effect and within model data show an increasing trend this morning, which should affect the morning commute and potentially into midday. The winds have shifted to the northwest which is now producing long fetch more dominant bands. Beneath this bands the MIdrive website is showing slowed travel with orange colors at present near Holland and Saugatuck where the more significant reflectivity is located. Model data shows lift within a DGZ that is squarely in the cloud layer. 925-850mb omega fields show strong lift up and down the lakeshore this morning. Expectations are for another inch or two with poor travel conditions due to the cold and falling snow.

We will need to likely issue a Cold Weather Advisory tonight for Central Lower Michigan for wind chill values that will dip to around -15F. With some clearing and a fresh snow pack we should radiate well tonight making below zero F low temps likely once again. Northeast winds of 5 to 10 mph are expected.

Lake effect clouds and snow showers should move off shore tonight and Friday as the off shore winds take the activity out over the lake.

- Quieter weather over the weekend

Ridging both at the surface and aloft should bring a quieter weather pattern to the area this weekend. Winds will primarily be north and northeast which should keep lake effect out of our area for the most part.

- A bit warmer next week

850mb temperatures will be near -20C today and Friday. By next week we should have warmed to around -10C. It does not seem like much, but it is the difference between highs in the teens vs highs in the 20s. We will likely see some light snow Sunday night into Monday as a surface trough slides through the region.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 1230 PM EST Thu Jan 29 2026

Largely VFR conditions are expected, but ceilings may briefly drop to around 2500 feet at times through this evening. Light snow showers are possible largely along the lakeshore with flurries inland. Little to no accumulation is expected across the area with the better chances of an inch focuses at MKG, however that will depend on if the lake effect snow can progress more inland. Winds will become more northerly behind the front tonight and turn to the northeast, also ceilings are expected to scatter out tonight into Friday morning.

GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MI...None. MARINE...None.