Lansing forecast: Strong winds, another 1-2 inches of snow through Wednesday

LANSING – More snow and gusty winds could make for hazardous driving conditions on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, forecasters said.

The Lansing region is expected to get 1 to 2 inches of new snow by early Wednesday afternoon, the National Weather Service said.

Wet snow had begun falling late Tuesday afternoon, but the flakes will get finer and lighter as the night goes on, said Heather Orow, a meteorologist for the weather service in Grand Rapids. Winds will pick up, as well, with gusts of up to 40 mpg,    

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Blowing snow could cut visibility and cause cleared roads to become slippery, Orow said.

A winter weather advisory remains in effect until 1 p.m. Wednesday for much of south-central and southwest Michigan, including the Lansing area.

The Lansing area had received 2½ to 3½ inches of snow by 8 a.m. Tuesday but didn't get much freezing rain, the weather service said. Icing has caused widespread power outages in Grand Rapids and other parts of west Michigan. 

The second round of snow from the storm could cause problems for commuters heading home late Tuesday evening, said Mike Sutton, another weather service forecaster. 

Wind gusts won't reach the 50 mph mark like they did over the weekend, but there is still "a threat of some stronger winds as this storm system comes through," he said. 

The storm that began Monday is the just the first in a series of winter storms that look lined up to sweep into the Great Lakes between now and late February.

Sutton said there's another winter storm heading into Michigan on Thursday. There's uncertainty about the precipitation type and accumulation with that storm, he said. 

Contact reporter Megan Banta at (517) 377-1261 or mbanta@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @MeganBanta_1