The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch that begins Thursday night and lasts through Saturday morning.
The watch zone includes St. Joseph, LaPorte, Marshall, and Starke Counties in Indiana and Berrien and Cass Counties in Michigan.
System snow on Thursday night will transition to bands of heavy lake-effect snow Friday into Friday night.
As much as six inches is expected to fall, though some areas could receive up to a foot of snow where the snow bands set up.
WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Heavy lake effect snow possible. Total snow accumulations in excess of 6 inches possible. * WHERE...Portions of northern Indiana and southwest Michigan. * WHEN...From Thursday evening through Saturday morning. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the Friday morning and Friday evening commute. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...System snow Thursday evening will transition to bands of heavy lake effect snow Friday into Friday night. Intense snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour will be possible within dominant lake effect snow bands. The heaviest snowfall and potential major impacts favor northern La Porte and southwest Berrien counties where localized amounts may exceed a foot.
Thursday: Cloudy, with a high near 24. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Thursday Night: Snow, mainly after 10pm. Low around 15. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Friday: Snow. High near 21. Northwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Friday Night: Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 2. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of snow, mainly before 10am. Mostly cloudy and cold, with a high near 20.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around -1.
Sunday: Mostly sunny and cold, with a high near 20.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 14.
Monday: A chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 33. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Monday Night: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a low around 31. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 37.
