Northern Michigan May Deal with 30 Inch Mid-April Ice and Snow Blizzard

Just as lower Michigan may begin to experience the first real signs of spring this weekend (April 13) the winter of 2018 may have one more crushing blow to deliver to Northern Michigan. Some forecasters are predicting a major snow and ice event.

The first words of warning come from Facebook forecaster SE Michigan Snowcast. The page has been forecasting snow around the Detroit area since 2013. Admittedly, they're not meteorologists, but do follow many of the same forecast models used.

Here's the update shared Wednesday (April 11) morning:

Wow!!!!!

There is going to be a MAJOR, and i mean MAJOR snow and ice storm for Northern Lower Michigan and the U.P. - Time frame: Friday through Sunday..... This could be a record breaking snow event for some. GFS and EURO showing at least 1 to 2 feet of snow with isolated 3 feet totals........If you are planning on traveling up north this weekend, i would truly think twice.

I know this is not southeast Michigan, however, many people do travel up there often.....

Again, i will try and update when i can, but please keep an eye on this. I truly think someone will see 20” to 30” of snow.

A Weather Channel map shows a snowfall total of up to 24 inches in the southern tier of the Upper Peninsula. Even higher amounts appear to be headed for the coast of Lake Huron from Mackinaw City through Cheybogan to around Alpena.

A long range forecast from the National Weather Service in Gaylord states,

A slow moving area of low pressure during the Friday through Monday
time frame will bring a wintry mix of precipitation...including the
potential for significant accumulations of heavy wet snow.

That this storm is forecast to strike on Friday the 13th shouldn't be any surprise to those who have paraskevidekatriaphobia. So while there is much up in the air about this weather event, it bears watching closely as we get closer to the weekend.

Update Saturday April 14

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning stretching north of a line from Grand Rapids to Port Huron including the northern Lower and Upper Peninsula.

In Northern Michigan, M-72 serves as the line between the heavy snow event and the ice/freezing rain hazard.

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