April snow forecast in northern Michigan; rain heads to Metro Detroit

Precipitation will be seen across the state this week and arrives as heavy, wet, dense snow for areas in northern Michigan, according to the National Weather Service's Gaylord office.

"We're looking at a low pressure center lifting into Michigan, overspreading the area. First, probably with some rain that eventually flips to snow late tomorrow afternoon into tomorrow evening," said Harold Dippman, a meteorologist at the Gaylord office.

"The system as whole is going to effect all of Michigan. Mainly rain expected downstate... Lansing, Grand Rapids, it's probably going to be more of a rain event... Cadillac, West Branch, and getting north of those areas, that's when the snow will start to increase in potential."

The heaviest of the precipitation occurs Tuesday night into Wednesday, Dippman said. "It's April snow. It's going to be wet, dense and sloppy."

He added: "As warm as this winter has been, it should always be remembered that up here in northern Michigan, there are places that do average measurable snow in the month of May and given that it's the beginning of April, climatology speaking this probably will not be the last snow that the area sees."

For Metro Detroit, rain and some snow showers are possible through Thursday as highs hover in the 40s.

The average high for early April is in the low 50s, weather service records show.

mjohnson@detroitnews.com

@_myeshajohnson