(1/28/2018) - Parts of Mid-Michigan are expected to receive a bit more snow than initially expected Monday as the first wave of this week's significant winter weather arrives.
Snow totals along the I-69 corridor in Genesee, Saginaw and Shiawassee counties now are expected to reach 6 to 11 inches before the heaviest snowfall tapers off by Monday evening.
The Tri-Cities, Thumb and areas just south of Saginaw Bay should receive about 8 to 12 inches of snow while areas north of Saginaw Bay could receive 9 inches to more than a foot of snow.
Winds are gusting at 15 to 20 mph, causing the snow to blow around and reduce visibility at times. Roadways are becoming slick as snow blows across, especially on north-south roads.
A Winter Storm Warning that went into effect early Monday morning continues through the day. Nearly 300 schools and organizations closed on Monday ahead of the storm.
Several government facilities, including all state offices, closed for the day Monday morning. They planned to reopen for business Tuesday morning.
Anyone planning to head out Monday is urged to call ahead before leaving to verify their destination is open.
The heaviest snow bands are expected to move east out of Mid-Michigan during the evening hours Monday as bitterly cold air begins pouring into the region. Temperatures will drop to near zero degrees while the winds continue gusting 15 to 20 mph.
Scattered snow showers totaling an inch or two and continued winds possibly gusting to 30 mph at times will continue Tuesday, likely creating visibility issues. The high temperature will reach into the teens with wind chills well below zero all day.
The bitterly cold air -- possibly the coldest Mid-Michigan has seen in 25 years -- comes on Wednesday. Forecasts are still showing a high temperature of -1 degrees for Wednesday and an overnight low Wednesday morning of -10 degrees.
Thursday won't be much warmer with a high of 7 degrees and a low of -8 in the morning.
Wind chills both days will be dangerously cold at -25 to -30 degrees. Frostbite can occur on exposed skin in 15 minutes to half an hour with wind chills that low.
However, there is hope of a warm up of sorts over the weekend. High temperatures are expected to get above freezing on Saturday and into the 40s on Sunday, when a rain-snow mix is possible.