(WWJ) - A major winter storm expected to thrash most of Michigan this weekend with winds up to 50 mph, heavy snow and Arctic air will also cause hazardous conditions on the Great Lakes and Lake St. Clair, experts warn.
The National Weather Service said Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake St. Clair and down into Lake Erie will be roiling with dangerous waves and winds that have the potential to overturn ships and could even lead to lakeshore flooding.
NWS meteorologists issued a Storm Warning for the all open American waters on Lake Superior beginning 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 11, until 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12 as the looming storm -- expected to rapidly intensify into a dangerous blizzard -- moves in over the weekend.
Experts sent an urgent warning for sailors to remain at port or secure their vessel for severe conditions as the storm moves through.
Forecasters say northeast winds will blow 30 to 40 knots with gusts up to 55 knots and waves 18 to 23 feet expected.
More dangerous is a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning also in effect for central, eastern and western Lake Superior the same timeframe that will see freezing spray at a rate of 2 cm per hour or greater expected, and may rapidly accumulate on vessels.
"Operating a vessel in heavy freezing spray is hazardous," the NWS cautioned. "Freezing spray may render mechanical and electronic components inoperative. Rapid ice accretion on decks and superstructures may result in a catastrophic loss of stability. Very strong winds will cause hazardous waves which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility."
The northern waters of Lake Huron from 5 NM east of Mackinac Bridge to Presque Isle Lt beyond 5 NM off shore and from Presque Isle Light to Sturgeon Point beyond 5 NM off shore under a Storm Warning that remains in effect from Friday morning until Saturday evening with forecasted sustained winds up to 44 knots from the northeast with gusts up to 50 knots.
The largest significant waves will be 20 feet with a potential maximum wave height of 29 feet expected around midnight on Saturday.
Southern Lake Huron -- from Outer Saginaw Bay SW of Alabaster to Port Austin MI to Inner Saginaw Bay to include Port Austin, Harbor Beach, Port Sanilac, Port Huron -- is all under a Gale Warning. Forecasters say hazardous conditions will include sustained winds up to 35 knots from the southwest with gusts up to 46 knots.
The largest significant waves will be 14 feet with a potential maximum wave height of 20 feet expected around 9 p.m. Friday.
On the west side, the northern half of Lake Michigan, north of a line from Two Rivers, Wisc. to Manistee, Mich. is under a Gale Warning which is expected to upgrade to a Storm Warning from Friday morning into Saturday morning.
"For the first Gale Warning, east winds 20 to 30 kt with gusts up to 40 kt and waves 6 to 9 feet expected," the NWS said. "For the Storm Warning, northeast winds 30 to 40 kt with gusts up to 50 kt and waves 12 to 17 ft expected. For the second Gale Warning, north to northwest winds 25 to 35 kt with gusts up to 45 kt and waves 11 to 16 ft expected."
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said waves will be so impressive, they could lead to lakeshore flooding along Lake Michigan's southern shores, to include: Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, Lakeside, New Buffalo and more.
On Lake Erie, mariners from the Islands to Conneaut, Ohio can expect southwest winds between 40 to 50 knots with gusts up to 60 knots and waves 13 to 18 feet possible with a Gale Watch in effect from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning.
"Southeast winds Friday evening become southwest Friday night," the NWS said of conditions of Lake Erie. "The strongest winds are expected on Saturday. Abnormally-low water levels are possible in the western basin of Lake Erie."
Michigan waters of Lake Erie from the Detroit River Lt. to Maumee Bay, Ohio to Reno Beach, Ohio to beyond 5 NM offshoreline to the US-Canadian border are also under a Gale Warning with maximum wave height predicted the reach 10 feet.
Lake St. Clair is expected to see similar conditions.
Mariners are also being warned of a Low Water Advisory in effect with abnormally low water levels expected.
"Strong southwesterly winds will cause water levels to quickly drop across the western basin of Lake Erie," the NWS said. "The critical mark for safe navigation at Toledo is 6 inches above low water datum. The current projection is for water levels to fall 2 to 4 feet below the critical mark."
Mariners were urged to navigate shallow waters with extreme caution.
AccuWeather meteorologist Dean DeVore said the storm will thrash Michigan with a foot or more of snow, frigid air and brutal winds from 40 to 60 mph that could create dangerous and life-threatening conditions for people and animals caught outside this weekend.
A Winter Weather Advisory for Huron, Tuscola, Sanilac, Shiawassee, Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, Oakland and Washtenaw counties has been posted from 1 p.m. Friday until 7 p.m. Saturday with forecasted snow accumulations of 3 to 6 inches and winds gusting as high as 50 mph.
A Winter Weather Advisory has also been posted for Macomb, Wayne, Lenawee and Monroe Counties from 1 p.m. Friday until 7 p.m. Saturday, with a little less snow -- accumulations of 1 to 4 inches == and winds gusts up to 50 mph possible.
All of the U.P. and most of central, south central, southwest and west central Michigan are under a Winter Storm Warning from 10 a.m. Friday until 7 p.m. Saturday with heavy snow accumulations of 8 to 13 inches expected and fierce wind gusts of over 50 mph creating hazardous or "perhaps impossible" travel by Friday night.
The storm is forecasted to become stronger and colder as it undergoes bombogenesis, or rapid intensification, and emerges as a "bomb cyclone," AccuWeather experts warn.
Blizzard conditions will be possible across portions of northern Michigan Friday evening and Friday night.
"Potential significant blowing and drifting snow and near-zero visibilities at times may lead to dangerous travel conditions," the NWS warned, "Specific areas of worst impacts are still uncertain, so please stay tuned to the latest forecast for important updates!"
As the storm moves through, a blast of cold arctic air will push its way into the Great Lakes region, dropping daytime highs into the teen’s and overnight lows all the way down into single digit temperatures for most of the state next week.
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