Winter Storm to Impact Michigan Saturday, January 11 - Sunday, January 12, 2020 Key Points
● Heavy rainfall with river flooding expected for Southern Lower MI
● Urban and overland flooding expected for Southern/SE Lower MI
● Impacts of river flooding last into next week
● Potential for an ice storm across Central to Southern Lower MI
● Gusty winds + ice leading to potentially widespread power outages
● Heavy snow accumulations, poor travel across Central/Northern Lower MI
● Exact areas of snow, sleet, and freezing rain still in question National Weather Service Grand Rapids, Michigan Weather.gov/GrandRapidsIssued: 2/18/2019 3:52 PM Winter Storm Impacts Valid for Saturday, January 11, 2020 Potential Storm Impact* *additional impacts into Saturday night/early Sunday for Northern Lower MI / U.P.
No Impacts No Significant Weather Expected
Limited Impacts Little to No Impact on Daily Life Low risk for some travel inconveniences
Minor Impacts Caution – Especially When Travelling Plan for typical winter travel inconveniences
Moderate Impacts Significant Inconveniences Disruption of normal activities is likely. Travel is hazardous.
Major Impacts Wide Disruption of All Normal Activities Plan for major delays/cancellations with travel not recommended
Extreme Impacts Extremely Life Threatening Travel may not be possible. Multi-day shutdowns/closures. Historic storm.
Issued Thursday, January 9, 2020
National Weather Service Grand Rapids, Michigan Weather.gov/GrandRapidsIssued: 2/18/2019 3:52 PM Forecast Ice Accumulations Saturday, January 11 - Sunday, January 12, 2020 Forecast Ice Accumulations When:
Worst expected for Saturday morning through Saturday night What to Expect:
Extended power outages possible
Icy roads with hazardous travel
Freezing rain could turn over to sleet or snow, limiting power outage potential
National Weather Service Grand Rapids, Michigan Weather.gov/GrandRapidsIssued: 2/18/2019 3:52 PM Forecast Snow Accumulations Saturday, January 11 - Sunday, January 12, 2020 Forecast Snow Accumulations When:
Worst expected for Saturday morning through Saturday night What to Expect:
Hazardous travel
Snow/blowing snow reducing visibility
Delays, cancellations
National Weather Service Grand Rapids, Michigan Weather.gov/GrandRapidsIssued: 2/18/2019 3:52 PM Probabilities of Significant Ice and Snow Accumulations Saturday, January 11 - Sunday, January 12, 2020 % Chance of 0.50” of Ice or Greater % Chance of 6” of Snow or Greater
National Weather Service Grand Rapids, Michigan Weather.gov/GrandRapidsIssued: 2/18/2019 3:52 PM Precipitation Type Forecast Saturday, January 11 - Sunday, January 12, 2020
Saturday Night/Early Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon Sunday AM
National Weather Service Grand Rapids, Michigan Weather.gov/GrandRapidsIssued: 2/18/2019 3:52 PM Wind Gust Forecast Saturday, January 11 - Sunday, January 12, 2020 Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon/Night Sunday Morning
20-30 MPH 20-30 MPH 30-40 MPH
20-30 MPH
30-40 MPH 40-50 MPH
40-50 MPH
30-40 MPH 30-40 MPH
➢ Isolated power outages possible ➢ Power outages likely ➢ Power outages likely ➢ Lakeshore flooding risk along Lake ➢ Winds diminish to less than 15-20 Huron, Saginaw Bay mph by Sunday afternoon
National Weather Service Grand Rapids, Michigan Weather.gov/GrandRapidsIssued: 2/18/2019 3:52 PM Heaviest total precipitation falls along I-94 corridor January 10-11, 2020 Chance of 2” or more precipitation totals When: Fri Night thru Sat Night
What to Expect: Highest totals south of a Kalamazoo-Lansing-Flint line
Flooding of Low Areas, Creeks, and Roadways
National Weather Service Grand Rapids, Michigan Weather.gov/GrandRapidsIssued: 2/18/2019 3:52 PM Grand River Flood Update January 11-16, 2020
Comstock Park - Grand River ✔ Cresting middle of next week East Lansing – Red Cedar River around 13 ft ✔ Cresting late Sunday near 7.6 ft ✔ Flood Crest will go higher if stays rain ✔ About 2.5 ft lower than Feb 2018 longer Stage
Grand Rapids Major Holt– Sycamore Creek ✔ Cresting late Sunday near 8.9 ft Moderate ✔ About 1 ft lower than Feb 2018 Robinson Twp – Grand River Minor ✔ Cresting middle of next week Lansing around 13 ft ✔ Crest will go higher if stays rain longer Jackson – Grand River ✔ Cresting middle of next week Jackson near 15.4 ft ✔ May break the previous all- time crest if stays all rain
National Weather Service Grand Rapids, Michigan Weather.gov/GrandRapidsIssued: 2/18/2019 3:52 PM Kalamazoo River Flood Update January 11-16, 2020
Holland
Comstock – Kalamazoo River ✔ Cresting around 9.4 ft Tuesday Flood afternoon Stage ✔ About 2 ft below Feb 2018 levels Major Battle Creek Kalamazoo Marshall – Kalamazoo River Moderate ✔ Cresting around 8.1 ft Monday afternoon, about 0.5 ft higher than Feb 2018 Minor ✔ May break the previous all-time crest if stays all rain Vicksburg– Portage River ✔ Cresting around 6 ft late Saturday Burlington– St. Joseph River ✔ Near Feb 2018 levels ✔ Cresting late next week around 6.6 ft ✔ About 0.3 ft below Feb 2018 levels
National Weather Service Grand Rapids, Michigan Weather.gov/GrandRapidsIssued: 2/18/2019 3:52 PM Grand River at Jackson January 11-16, 2020
Impacts: Moderate flooding of homes along High St, Lewis St, and Losey St.
Traffic disrupted
Railroad tracks could be impacted
National Weather Service Grand Rapids, Michigan Weather.gov/GrandRapidsIssued: 2/18/2019 3:52 PM Overview of River Flood Severity January 11-16, 2020
Major Flooding Moderate/Major Flooding Minor Flooding Sites ● Extensive Inundation of Roads, Sites Structures, and Communities Grand River St. Joseph River ● Evacuations Grand River ● Comstock Park (Wed ● Burlington (Thu PM) ● Movement of Property to Higher ● Jackson (Wed AM) AM) Elevations ● Robinson Twp (Wed Portage River Several locations in PM) ● Vicksburg (Sat PM) Moderate Flooding Southeast Lower MI Sycamore Creek ● Some Inundation of Roads, ● Holt (Sun PM) Structures, and Communities ● Possible Evacuations Red Cedar ● Movement of Property to Higher ● East Lansing (Mon Elevations AM)
Minor Flooding Kalamazoo River ● Minimal Property Damage ● Marshall (Sun PM) ● Public Inconvenience ● Comstock (Tue PM)
National Weather Service Grand Rapids, Michigan Weather.gov/GrandRapidsIssued: 2/18/2019 3:52 PM Ways to Receive Weather Information Saturday, January 11 - Sunday, January 12, 2020
http://www.weather.gov/grr
https://www.facebook.com/NWSGrandRapids
https://twitter.com/nwsgrandrapids
NWS River Forecasts: https://water.weather.gov/ahps/
National Weather Service Grand Rapids, Michigan Weather.gov/GrandRapidsIssued: 2/18/2019 3:52 PM