Lake-effect snow cited in pileup on I-94 in Van Buren County
Jakkar AimeryEastbound lanes of Interstate 94 in Van Buren County reopened after lake-effect snow led to a pileup and injuries Monday morning, Michigan State Police said.
It wasn't clear how many vehicles were involved in the incident at about 11 a.m. Police did not immediately respond to inquiries.
The freeway was closed for nearly six hours from mile markers 66 to 72, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation.
The weather service said on social media that up to 6 inches of snowfall was expected west of Highway 131 from daybreak to midnight, with some isolated higher amounts possible south of Saugatuck. A stretch of I-94 west of Battle Creek and the entirety of Route 31 were expected to be affected, the weather service said.
Mason, Lake Osceola, Oceana, Muskegon, Ottawa and Kalamazoo counties were under a lake-effect snow advisory, which could produce snow accumulations up to 4 inches and wind gusts to 40 mph, the weather service said.
A winter weather advisory was in effect for the region until 4 a.m. Tuesday.
Common across the Great Lakes region, lake-effect snow occurs when cold air moves across the open waters of the Great Lakes, according to the weather service. Often originating from Canada, cold air passes over relatively warm waters of the Great Lakes, forcing air to rise, and clouds to form and grow into narrow band that produces up to 3 inches of snow per hour or more, the weather service said.
Hazardous travel conditions in the region were expected to continue through Monday evening, NWS reported.
"Plan on slippery road conditions. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions will impact the evening commute," the weather service said in an update before 4 p.m.
"Areas of heavy lake-effect snow and blowing snow are expected Monday evening into part of the night," the weather service's Grand Rapids office said on social media. "This will result in spots with hazardous travel conditions, especially west of Kalamazoo and south of Holland. Quieter weather is expected on Tuesday."
The freeway closure and crash follows temperatures Monday that topped out around 34 with a low near 26 during the day.
jaimery@detroitnews.com