Summary
Isolated-numerous school closures and scattered early dismissals are expected on Wednesday with the greatest likelihood of snow days across portions of Western Muskegon, Oceana, and Mason counties due to heavy lake-effect snow. Additional, more widespread, snow days are expected on Thursday due to continued lake-effect snow and frigid temperatures/wind chills.
Discussion Day 1 Snow Day Prediction - Wednesday 12/11/2024:
Isolated school closures are possible across areas generally North of I-96 and West of M-37 on Wednesday with the exception of the expectation for more scattered to widespread snow days across Western Muskegon, Oceana, and Mason Counties along the US-31 corridor.
A complex lake-effect snow winter storm will get underway overnight tonight into Wednesday morning. Computer weather models, as is typical for lake-effect snow events, have been struggling a bit with the areas that are the most likely to experience the heaviest and most persistent bands of snow, and hence, where the highest snowfall totals will be. The general consensus, or otherwise most likely scenario, seems to be that areas along US-31 North of I-96 will have the best potential for snow amounts exceeding 5 inches by 5:00/6:00 AM Wednesday morning as school administrators make decisions on snow days.
Schools that do not close Wednesday morning, especially West of M-37, will have a decent chance of early dismissals as school administrators consider the increasingly difficult/hazardous conditions that are expected for the Wednesday afternoon/evening commute.
Additionally, more widespread snow days are expected on Thursday. See the discussion below for that prediction.
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