The white fir in downtown East Lansing that will be in place for the holiday season. Hazardous weather is expected to cause travel delays around Thanksgiving. (Lucas Day for ELi)

Hazardous Snowy and Windy Weather Expected to Delay Thanksgiving Travel

Whether individuals are coming into town for Thanksgiving or leaving East Lansing, the National Weather Service, or NWS, is cautioning Michiganders to prepare for winter conditions on the roads that could result in delays and power outages during the state’s busiest travel week.

While East Lansing isn’t expected to see the heavy snowfall that much of the state is, the city will see high winds. Wind gusts around 60mph are expected to whip through West Michigan and may remain as fast as 46mph in East Lansing today, NWS warns, issuing a wind advisory for Wednesday and Thursday for much of West and Mid-Michigan.

Snow is also expected in Mid-Michigan starting mid day today, and may continue through Thursday.

The Grand Rapids NWS station is advising holiday travelers to allow for extra time in order for motorists to arrive safely at their destination as some roads may be slick and with the expected snowy and windy conditions coming in from Lake Michigan, visibility may reach whiteout at times.

“Strong winds are expected [t]oday and tonight gusting to between 45 and 60 mph across the area…Power outages are very possible with this magnitude of wind,” a hazardous weather outlook alert for West and Mid-Michigan counties from the Grand Rapids NWS station said Wednesday morning. “Snow showers will commence this morning towards the middle to end of the morning commute. The heaviest snow will occur this afternoon and evening. The combination of falling snow and strong winds will cause near whiteout conditions at times. Those traveling Wednesday into Thanksgiving Day should be prepared to encounter winter travel conditions across Western Lower Michigan. Travel will be slowed and slippery conditions will develop.”

After getting a taste of winter cold over the last few weeks, much of Michigan is expected to see strong winds and snowfall throughout Wednesday into Thanksgiving Day, with portions of the Upper Peninsula potentially seeing more than two feet of snowfall during a blizzard during holiday travel, according to NWS.