Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and the Eastern U.S. Hit by Arctic Cold Blast, Lake-Effect Snow and Uncertain Weekend Winter Threat

UNITED STATES — A strong arctic cold front sweeping across the eastern half of the country is driving much colder temperatures, lake-effect snow, blowing snow, and increasing winter weather concerns from the Great Lakes through the Midwest and into the Southeast as the weekend approaches.

Many areas woke up to temperatures 15 to 30 degrees colder than just 24 hours earlier, setting the stage for hazardous travel, reduced visibility, and accumulating snow in several states.

Cold air continues pushing south, and forecasters say impacts will stretch across multiple regions through Saturday and into early Sunday.

Sharp Temperature Drop Follows Powerful Cold Front

Behind the front, much colder air has surged into the eastern U.S., producing one of the sharpest temperature drops of the season so far.

Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee, and the Mid-Atlantic saw rapid cooling overnight
Many locations are 15–30°F colder than yesterday
Gusty winds are making conditions feel even colder, especially overnight and early morning

This cold air is helping fuel snow showers, blowing snow, and lake-effect bands.

Heavy Lake-Effect Snow Slams Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan

The most significant snowfall over the past 24 hours occurred in northern Indiana and southern Michigan, where persistent lake-effect snow developed off Lake Michigan.

Observed snowfall totals include:

4 to 6+ inches from Saint Joseph, Michigan to Marion, Indiana
Over 16 inches in South Bend, Indiana and near Notre Dame
Intense snow bands produced rapid accumulation in a short time

Snowfall totals varied sharply over short distances, a typical lake-effect setup.

Blowing Snow and Reduced Visibility in North Dakota and Minnesota

Farther north, the arctic front is producing snow showers and blowing snow across North Dakota and Minnesota.

Key impacts include:

0.5 to 2 inches of snowfall
Strong north-northwest winds
Visibility dropping below ½ mile at times
Friday morning commute impacted by blowing and drifting snow

Even lighter snowfall amounts are causing travel problems due to wind.

More Snow Expected in Michigan Into Saturday Morning

Another round of snow is expected across western and central Michigan, continuing into Saturday morning, especially near Lake Michigan.

Forecast highlights:

2 to 5 inches along the US-131 corridor
4 to 7 inches along the Lake Michigan lakeshore
Isolated totals of 8 inches or more possible north of Holland
Westerly winds of 15–25 mph may cause blowing snow and slick roads

Both morning and evening commutes could be affected.

Mountain Snow Possible in Tennessee and Southwest Virginia

Snow chances increase Friday night into Saturday for higher elevations in the southern Appalachians.

East Tennessee mountains: 1–4 inches, locally higher at peaks
Southwest Virginia: 1–2 inches at higher elevations
Lower elevations likely see rain or a rain/snow mix with little to no accumulation

Mountain roadways could become slick overnight.

Deep South and Southeast Watching Uncertain Weekend Snow Threat

Forecast confidence drops heading into the weekend, but light snow or flurries remain possible late Saturday night into early Sunday.

Areas being monitored include:

Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia
Parts of the Florida Panhandle
Coastal North Carolina and South Carolina, where 1–2 inches are possible if the storm tracks just offshore

At this time, the chance of greater than 1 inch of snow remains low (10–30%), but trends could change.

What Residents Should Do Now

Even with uncertainty, preparation is encouraged:

Review emergency and travel plans
Monitor updated forecasts frequently
Allow extra travel time
Prepare vehicles for winter conditions
Dress for extreme cold and wind chills

With arctic air in place, conditions can change quickly.

Stay Updated With Waldron

Winter weather impacts are unfolding across multiple states, and additional changes are possible as new data becomes available.

Stay with Waldron for the latest snow forecasts, cold-weather updates, and travel impact reports as conditions continue to develop.