FORECAST SUMMARY: Monday, January 26, 2026 through Friday, January 30, 2026
PM-2.5: 24-hour average Fine Particulate concentrations are expected to be mostly Good (AQI Green) with scattered Low Moderates (AQI Yellow) throughout the forecast period.
FORECAST DISCUSSION
The coldest air of the season remains intact with no significant relief through the forecast period. Friday night temperatures dropped in the -20-degree range in much of the Lower Peninsula with some stations reporting the coldest temperatures in 30 years.
This week continues with bitterly cold weather with daytime high temperatures in the teens and overnight lows near zero. West Michigan continues to be bombarded with lake effect snow with several more inches expected in western Ottawa, Allegan, and Van Buren counties. During Monday, the National Weather Service is predicting snowfall amounts will largely range from 1-4 inches within the advisory area but the highest amounts of 5-7 inches are more likely within Van Buren and southwest potions of Allegan County.
A shortwave of low pressure is projected to move through the area late Monday night into Tuesday morning bringing widespread accumulations of 2 to 4 inches along and west of US-131 with lower amounts further east. A second and larger, colder arctic intrusion is forecasted to dig straight southward into the region Thursday and Friday with overnight lows projected in the sub-zero range.
High pressure moves across the region during the weekend. As the high pressure slides eastward, the area comes under light southwest winds which should slightly moderate the temperatures to around 20 degrees by Sunday.
In terms of Air Quality, Good Air Quality should begin the week with increasingly scattered Moderates by the end of the week.
EXTENDED FORECAST:
Air Quality is expected to remain mostly Good to Moderate entering the upcoming weekend.