Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Whitehall, MI

DISCUSSION
Issued at 259 PM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026

- Snowfall through Central Michigan Early Friday

Bottom Line Upfront: Have issued a Winter weather advisory for most of the US 10 Corridor and extended it southward to include Mecosta and Isabella counties.
The Alberta Clipper system remains on track with a deep low that is still expected to move through northern Michigan. There is still a question about how much snow will accumulate. However, The strong gradient, QPF of upwards of 0.80, and a 2 to 3 KFT DGZ should allow for inch per hour rates at times from 06Z until around 15Z. Strong mixing and lapse rates through the DGZ will help. Considering this is occuring in the pre dawn hours expecting 4 to 6 inches with locally higher amounts possible north of the US 10 corridor, especially in any higher elevations. Any snow accumulations southward will be limited with at most an inch closer to the I 96 corridor.

- High Winds Across Southern Lower Michigan Tomorrow

Models continue to show a highly anomalous gradient associated with this low which will begin with strong southerly flow out ahead of it. It will then sweep across southern Lower Michigan tomorrow. Mid range models are in fair agreement with lapse rates of over 9.0 C/km near the SFC in some locations which would mix down 50 to 60 mph winds. Any precip loading will further add to the winds. The upper level low is tracking through the Upper Peninsula mid day tomorrow with downsloping winds and cold air advection adding to the winds. Winds throughout the day will be gusty, though there will be two peaks; the first on the onset as the low moves into the area around 12Z and mid to late in the afternoon with any amplification from a shortwave through the mid levels. Winds will finally slacken mid to late Friday evening.

- Significant Late Winter Storm Possible Sunday into Monday

Sunday into Monday looks to potentially be one of the more impactful events of the winter. There remains a lot of questions but a swath of ice and significant snowfall is possible Sunday into Monday. A large upper level low will track through the Great Plains with strong warm air advection Sunday. That warm front will bring a chance for storms Sunday afternoon. As the low lifts to the east the cold air along with strong moisture advection will pivot a swath of moisture across Lower Michigan with a wintry mix of precipitation across the region. There could be a narrow band of freezing rain Sunday night through Central Michigan with heavy snow to the north. Models are beginning to narrow in on the threat area, but there remains a focus of freezing rain and heavy snow north of Muskegon to Mount Pleasant Sunday night into Monday.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/
Issued at 718 PM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026

The big story will be the wind with LLWS over 60 knots tonight into Friday morning. Surface winds will also start gusting over 40 knots late tonight into Thursday with some gusts over 50 knots.

VFR conditions through 06Z then conditions will suddenly drop to IFR/MVFR by 12Z as snow arrives from the west. Most of the snow will be across central and northern Lower Michigan where IFR could persist into the afternoon.

MARINE
Issued at 259 PM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026

The marine section will have a gusty restart as a strong upper level system will move through the region tomorrow. Winds will increase and will amplify from the south with storm force winds beginning late this evening. Winds will shift to the west on the backside of the system tomorrow morning but will continue its intensity through Friday. Waves will increase to 11 to 16 feet through Friday, The winds will finally begin to slacken overnight Friday into Saturday with waves subsiding Saturday morning.

GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
MI...High Wind Warning from 2 AM to 8 PM EDT Friday for MIZ037- 043>046-050>052-056>059-064>067-071>074.
Winter Weather Advisory from 11 PM this evening to 2 PM EDT Friday for MIZ038>040-045-046.
MARINE...Storm Warning from 11 PM this evening to 11 PM EDT Friday for LMZ844>848.
Gale Warning from 11 PM this evening to 11 PM EDT Friday for LMZ849.