Arctic front to bring snow, extreme cold to area

LANSING - Forget about that record warm December and mostly mild January.

It's going to feel a lot more like winter over the next few days.

An arctic cold front packing snow, strong winds and bitter cold temperatures is due to arrive in the Lansing region on Friday.

Up to three inches of snow is expected Friday morning and afternoon, followed by the lowest temperatures we've seen so far this winter, the National Weather Service said.

The snow will come in a burst along the leading edge of the cold front and might cause problems during the Friday evening commute, meteorologist Janis Laurens said.

"Then, it's going to turn very windy and colder," said Laurens, who is based at the weather service's Grand Rapids station.

Winds will shift from the southwest to the west and northwest on Friday afternoon, with gusts of up to 28 mph, forecasters said. Another half-inch of snow is possible Friday night, when temperatures are expected to fall to around zero.

Saturday will be even colder, with an afternoon high in the low teens and an overnight low of minus-2 or minus-3, Laurens said.

On Sunday, Valentine's Day, expect sunny skies with a high near 18 degrees and a low of around 13 degrees, the weather service said. Temperatures should start climbing back into the 30s during the first part of next week.

For better or worse, the arctic front arrives just in time for Michigan's 2016 Winter Free Fishing Weekend. Anyone can fish without a license on Saturday and Sunday, although all other regulations remain in place. The cold weather will almost certainly improve ice conditions but could make things pretty uncomfortable for all but the most hardened ice anglers.

The lowest temperature recorded so far this winter in Lansing was 5 degrees, Lauren said. That came in early January.

Contact Ken Palmer at (517) 377-1032 or kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.