Many school districts have closed Thursday, Jan. 23, as snowfall continues - particularly along the lakeshore - in a weeklong winter storm.

A chain reaction crash developed Tuesday morning in white-out conditions along Interstate 94 in West Michigan.

“In cold temperatures like this, when the firefighters stop, and they have sweat underneath. Once they lose the protection of that vapor barrier, they never get it back,” a Fire Lieutenant with The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety said.

The coldest air in six years blasts into Michigan to start the week, with highs in the single digits, wind chills ten to twenty-five below zero, heavy lake effect snow

While temperatures are rising and we're on our way out of the sub-zero temperatures we saw earlier this week, the snow still won't quit.

Those who can in Southwest Michigan are prepping for forecast freezing temperatures at the grocery store. Some groups are working with those with nowhere to go to keep them safe from the cold. Others are stocking up with supplies to shield their homes.

“Lake-effect snow within about 25 miles of Lake Michigan should pile up 6 to 12 inches through Tuesday,” NWS meteorologists in Grand Rapids said. “Winds gusting to 25 mph on Monday may create higher drifts. Some snow extending into Mid Michigan may also create tricky travel conditions.”

With widespread school closings in West Michigan this week, some districts have now seen a half dozen or more snow days this school year.

The Michigan Wolverines head to West Lafayette to take on the Purdue Boilermakers in a battle of two of the Big Ten's best men's basketball teams.

“In cold temperatures like this, when the firefighters stop and they have sweat underneath, once they lose the protection of that vapor barrier --they never get it back,” Fire Lieutenant Jason Hendrick with the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety said.

West Michigan's coldest Arctic blast since 2019 brought frigid temperatures to all and heavy lake-effect to some.