GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- A powerful area of low pressure will slowly crawl across the state this weekend. It will bring a combination of heavy rain, wind, sleet and freezing rain to West Michigan.
Very heavy rain will continue across the entire region Saturday. 1 to 2 inches of rain is likely across most of West Michigan with this storm.
Winds will begin to turn to the northeast on Saturday as colder air is forced into the region. A thin layer of cold air near the surface combined with above freezing temperatures just above it will be enough to generate freezing rain. The greatest risk for heavy freezing rain will be along and north of I-96. Up to an inch of freezing rain is possible in some locations. If the column of air above the surface is cooler, sleet could be the dominant precipitation type.
The combination of heavy freezing rain and strong winds could bring down power lines and tree limbs around the area. As a result, there is the potential for widespread power outages. Travel will become treacherous to nearly impossible at times between Saturday night and early Sunday.
Northern Lower Michigan and into the Upper Peninsula will see heavy, wet snow during this storm. Between 1-2 feet of snow is possible in these areas through Monday.
Most areas will see gradual improvements around midday Sunday as temperatures climb above freezing. Freezing rain is likely to transition to rain midday Sunday. Colder air will gradually return Sunday night. Light snow is possible Sunday night through early Monday.