The Great Lakes are bracing for heavy snow this week as more lake effects loom

More lake effect snow is on the way, including in western Michigan, where the The National Weather Service (NWS) is forecasting snowfall Tuesday evening, increasing in extent and intensity on Wednesday and slowing commuter traffic.

According to the NWS, it is expected to begin Wednesday and continue downwind of the Great Lakes through Thursday.

Cleveland will see rain from the south on Tuesday before a cold front develops, the NWS said. A stronger cold front is expected to move through the area on Wednesday, bringing more rain that turns to snow, forecasters said.

“The cold front associated with this rapidly strengthening system will become quite strong as it sweeps across the East Coast during the day on Wednesday,” the NWS forecast said. “There is a chance of some very strong thunderstorms forming ahead of the front along with heavy rainfall.”

“Meanwhile, significantly colder air behind the front is forecast to lead to increased snowfall on the western slopes of the Appalachians on Wednesday, along with blustery northwesterly winds. Snow will then sweep across interior New England Wednesday night into Thursday morning.”

As Christmas approaches and more winter weather approaches, here is the latest look at the snowfall forecast for key areas around the Great Lakes.

Snow forecast for Grand Rapids, Michigan

Snow forecast: Toledo, Cleveland, Erie

Snow forecast for Buffalo, Rochester, Western New York

Snow forecast for Syracuse, Binghamton, Cooperstown

Snow forecast for the Pittsburgh region

National snow forecast map

The map below shows the likelihood that more than 10cm of snow could fall in an area. Use the slider in the top left to toggle between day and day.

This story has been updated to add video.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Snow forecast: Check out the forecast lake effect snowfall over the Great Lakes