OVERNIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING:

A storm system will swing through NW Indiana overnight into the early morning hours Saturday bringing a general light to moderate snow through morning. Overall accumulations will range from an inch or two at best. Winds will increase behind the cold front and this will set the stage for the lake effect snow machine to get cranking…

SATURDAY MIDDAY THROUGH EVENING:

Lake effect snow will begin to develop midday and may be a bit disorganized for a bit. More than likely the bands will set up in SW lower Michigan into La Porte County. As the afternoon progresses, winds will continue to align and colder air will continue to filter in. This will set the stage for a potentially potent band of lake effect snow to develop somewhere near the La Porte/Porter County vicinity.

Winds will really begin to pick up, gusting to 40mph at times during the afternoon and evening. Any snow that develops will create hazardous driving conditions. Outside of this main area of lake effect snow, we likely won’t see much at all, but it will be cold, windy, and any snow that fell earlier will be blowing around. Any snow will end by the early morning hours Sunday. Here’s what we covered in our Facebook Live in terms of timing:

Necessary Disclaimer: Lake effect snow is fickle–and snow bands “wobble” back and forth based on exact ebbs and flows in the wind over the lake. There is always uncertainty with lake effect snow forecasts in terms of intensity, duration, and location. Despite all of this, the atmospheric setup late Saturday is one that will support a narrow band of intense snow with perhaps 1-3 inches of snow per hour in the heart of the band. Outside of it? Flurries or no snow–that’s lake effect.

AREAS IMPACTED AND ACCUMULATIONS:

For those of you in Lake and Newton Counties, you’ll see a general 1-2 inches at best by morning. The heart of the lake effect band should stay just east of you. This would keep our totals on the lighter side. Eastern Lake County will need to keep a close eye on the snowband once it develops.

For those of you in Porter, Jasper, and Starke Counties, you’ll see a general 1-2 inches at best by morning and then we’ll likely see impacts from this lake effect snow band. Porter County could see the higher impacts with 4+ inches possible, but the band could still produce intense snow in Starke and northern Jasper counties.

Finally, for those of you in La Porte County, you’re under a Winter Storm Warning for a reason–it’s almost a sure bet that you see some kind of impactful lake effect snow tomorrow. Winds will be howling by afternoon helping to create difficult driving conditions with any snow. Accumulations, if this band indeed gets going, could exceed 6 inches.

Stay tuned! We’ll have you covered tomorrow.