Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Winter Storm to Dump Heavy Snow in Midwest

11/9/2025

45 5 Full Breakdown

Center

Michigan Winter Storm

A winter storm will bring heavy lake-effect snow to parts of Michigan and the Midwest this weekend, with areas around Marquette expected to receive the heaviest snowfall.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a winter weather advisory for the Upper Peninsula, 4 to 10 inches by Monday evening.
In lower Michigan, rain and snow will transition to lake-effect snow, with 2 to 5 inches expected.

Left

Polar Vortex Hits

A significant cold snap will hit the United States this weekend, reaching the East Coast by Monday.
The Arctic air mass will affect about 155 million people, bringing freezing conditions through Wednesday.
The cold is linked to a tropopause polar vortex moving southward.
As the polar vortex winds weaken in coming weeks, more cold outbreaks may occur, potentially lowering temperatures nationwide.

History

Historical Context

The polar vortex influences extreme cold events in North America, notably during the January 2014 cold wave, which affected over 200 million people. This event resulted from a weakened polar vortex, allowing Arctic air to plunge southward. As climate patterns shift, such severe weather occurrences may become more frequent, highlighting the ongoing impact of climate change on weather extremes.

1 of 3

Michigan Winter Storm

A winter storm will bring heavy lake-effect snow to parts of Michigan and the Midwest this weekend, with areas around Marquette expected to receive the heaviest snowfall.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a winter weather advisory for the Upper Peninsula, 4 to 10 inches by Monday evening.
In lower Michigan, rain and snow will transition to lake-effect snow, with 2 to 5 inches expected.

1 / 3