Lake effect snow developed over Lake Michigan Thursday night and has stayed over Lake Michigan so far Friday morning. We have seen a few random lake effect flurries but most of the accumulating snow is still well over the Lake. That snow should make its way over land by the end of the morning commute and stay with us through the late afternoon.
The lake effect snow should end in most areas by the late afternoon or dinnertime hours. Highest totals will happen in our lakeside areas especially right near the lakefront in Sheboygan and Ozaukee Counties and farther inland across most of Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha Counties. Some lake effect snow showers could reach as far west as our western counties bringing in the chance at a dusting there. A few lake effect flurries might still be possible Friday night and Saturday during the morning hours but besides a dusting no additional accumulation is likely.
Some were questioning how we could see lake effect with all of the ice that has developed over Lake Michigan with the cold the last week. Even though it may seem pretty ice covered right near the shore, there is still plenty of open water in the middle of Lake Michigan. Our current ice coverage is sitting at 27% which is a bit more than average and last year but still far from totally iced over.
Download the CBS 58 Weather app to track the lake effect throughout the day.