Thanksgiving travelers across the Great Lakes Snowbelts are bracing for potentially challenging conditions as a significant lake-effect snow event is expected to unfold beginning Wednesday and persist through Thanksgiving Day and into Black Friday. The FOX Forecast Center has indicated that this could be the most notable snow event of the season thus far.
The National Weather Service has already issued Winter Storm Watches for areas downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario, which will be in effect from late Wednesday through Friday evening. Computer forecast models suggest that Michigan’s Upper Peninsula could see accumulations of snow measured in feet.
Initially, a weather system moving from the Northern Plains is anticipated to primarily bring rain to the Great Lakes region, while snow is likely to be more concentrated in the Dakotas and Minnesota. However, as this system moves, arctic air will follow, creating ideal conditions for heavy lake-effect snow in Michigan.
Travelers planning to head out on Wednesday afternoon should stay vigilant, as the transition from rain to snow may lead to hazardous driving conditions. By Thanksgiving, lake-effect snow will intensify across the Upper Peninsula, with areas like Marquette potentially receiving close to 2 feet of snow by Friday, although totals may vary based on wind patterns.
The situation may be less predictable around Lakes Erie and Ontario, with forecasts indicating that winds late Wednesday night into Thursday could shift from southwest to west-southwest, affecting where snow bands will settle. By Friday, these winds are expected to shift further, likely pushing the snow bands southward.
Some regions in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and western New York may also encounter significant snowfall, with projections suggesting a foot or more by the end of Black Friday. Weather enthusiasts and travelers alike are encouraged to monitor the FOX Weather updates to stay informed on this developing storm.