COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County is bracing for a period of extreme arctic weather as temperatures are projected to plummet even more by the end of the week.
Daytime highs are expected to struggle to reach the mid-teens, while overnight lows will likely dip into the single digits. Compounding the cold, dangerous wind chills may drop as low as 11 to 25 degrees below zero, creating life-threatening conditions for anyone outdoors for extended periods. In response, local officials have opened a warming shelter at the Coach Eby Youth and Family Center in Coldwater, which will remain available to residents in need through the morning of Wednesday, January 21. The National Weather Service has issued a Cold Advisory from this morning through 9 a.m. Tuesday.
Temperatures could rebound slightly mid-week before even colder air arrives late week and into the weekend.
In addition to the bitter cold, multiple rounds of snowfall are forecast to impact the area through at least tomorrow.
While widespread heavy accumulations are not immediately expected, frequent light snow showers and lake-effect bands could add up to a few inches of accumulation by Tuesday morning.
Strong west winds, gusting up to 35 mph, are anticipated to cause patchy blowing snow and significantly reduced visibility, potentially making for hazardous driving conditions. Drivers are urged to exercise caution on side roads and interstates, which may remain slick as road treatments become less effective in the extreme cold.
Forecasters are also watching for a potential winter storm that could affect the Great Lakes Region over the upcoming weekend, that is something we will be keeping an eye on over the coming days.
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