Winter Storm Warning in effect Thursday in NW Indiana, SW Michigan for blowing lake-effect snow
Up to 8 inches of snow expected in parts of area
BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. (WLS) -- A Winter Storm Warning is in effect Thursday in northwest Indiana and southwest Michigan.
The warning is in effect until 1 a.m. EST Friday morning for Elkhart, LaGrange, Cass and St. Joseph counties in Indiana and Berrien County in Michigan.
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A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for LaPorte County until 1 a.m. EST.
A number of lake effect snow showers will blow through the area Thursday. Windy conditions will also cause some blowing and drifting snow, reducing visibility.
Berrien County Sheriff's Office Capt. Rockey Adams said the area is expecting 6 to 8 inches of snow.
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Wind has also downed branches, leading to power outages, he said.
Video footage in New Buffalo, Michigan showed strong winds, blowing snow and poor visibility.
The man who recorded the video described it as "insane winds and blinding snow."
Temperatures will only peak up into the 20s on Thursday, and wind chills will make it feel like temperatures are in the teens.
In Bridgman, Michigan, west of Benton Harbor, there has been a little snow throughout the day.
But the majority of the heavy stuff stayed east.
It was fairly cold and very windy Thursday afternoon, but there wasn't a whole lot of snow.
In anticipation, the schools in nearby Stevensville were closed Thursday.
There did not appear to be much accumulated snow Thursday afternoon in northwest Indiana, or along the lake.
But there were big waves.
Residents said this was the first big storm of the winter.
There are signs along Interstate 94 alerting drivers to the Winter Storm Warning.
