Weather
Michigan Weather Alert: Lake-Effect Snow Targets the Thumb Nov 14
DETROIT, MI – Lake effect rain showers are expected to transition into wet snow across portions of southeast Michigan on Friday, Nov. 13, with up to 2 inches of accumulation forecast in parts of the T
By Caleb Mercer · 2026-11-13T09:13:51.560Z
DETROIT, MI – Lake effect rain showers are expected to transition into wet snow across portions of southeast Michigan on Friday, Nov. 13, with up to 2 inches of accumulation forecast in parts of the Thumb region and the possibility of locally higher totals through Saturday morning.
According to the National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac office, north to northwest winds of 10 to 20 mph will accompany the changing precipitation as lake effect showers continue across the region.
The greatest snowfall potential is concentrated near Sandusky and Port Huron , where forecast accumulations range from 1 to 2 inches.
Farther inland, Flint could receive approximately 0.1 to 1 inch, while Saginaw is expected to see less than one tenth of an inch.
The forecast indicates minimal accumulation across the Detroit metropolitan area, including Detroit, Ann Arbor, Pontiac, Monroe and Adrian, where totals are generally expected to remain below one tenth of an inch.
However, forecasters caution that snowfall amounts remain uncertain because unusually warm Great Lakes water temperatures are complicating predictions of precipitation type and surface temperatures.
Heavier lake effect bands could temporarily lower temperatures several degrees below model projections , allowing wet snow to accumulate more efficiently than currently anticipated.
As a result, localized snowfall totals could exceed forecast amounts, particularly in areas experiencing persistent lake effect precipitation.
The transition from rain to wet snow could also produce rapidly changing conditions across relatively short distances.
Drivers traveling through Michigan's Thumb should remain alert for localized accumulation, reduced visibility and potentially slippery roads where heavier snow showers develop.
The National Weather Service expects minor wet snow accumulations to remain possible through Saturday morning, Nov. 14 , primarily across the Thumb.
Residents should monitor updated forecasts as the location and intensity of lake effect bands become clearer.
Additional forecast information is available at weather.gov/dtx .