Hurricane Sandy Will Impact Michigan Weather This Week

There won't be any flooding or evacuations, but Hurricane Sandy's reach will have a big impact on Michigan weather this week, possibly bringing light snow and chilly, rainy weather for Halloween.

The storm system – expected to be one of the largest and most destructive in United States history – has resulted in evacuations and state of emergency declarations along the East Coast, as well as the closure of public transportation in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.

Sandy is anticipated to make landfall Monday night in New Jersey, according to the National Weather Service. As it moves west, the system will bring high winds, colder weather and rain to the Midwest.

The effects will be felt throughout southern Michigan, though the greatest impact will be on the southwest coast near Lake Michigan. A wind advisory and lakeshore flood warning have been issued for the Grand Rapids area, with wind gusts as high as 50 miles per hour expected.

Bryan Tulley, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in White Lake, told MLive that Sunday's high winds were the first signs of Sandy in Michigan.

“The wind from the system, it’s a pretty expansive reach of strong winds,” he said.

Rain is expected in southeast Michigan throughout Monday and into Tuesday, accompanied by highs of 45 and 44 degrees, respectively.

"The rain may mix at times with a little light snow, especially Monday night into Tuesday morning," the National Weather Service says.

The inclement weather is possible heading into Halloween on Wednesday, too, when cold temperatures and rain could put a damper on trick-or-treating for Michigan kids.

Stay with Patch for more information on Hurricane Sandy as it develops.