Forecasters warn motorists that snow will pile up this week around the Great Lakes, with effects ranging from snow-clogged roads to downed trees and power outages.

Cold air is sweeping across the Great Lakes region, bringing lake-effect snow from Michigan's Upper Peninsula to Western New York

The biggest lake-effect snow event of the season thus far is pummeling the Great Lakes Snowbelt, and is expected to deliver feet of snow through Black Friday, creating long periods of life-threatening travel conditions across major Interstate highways this Thanksgiving holiday.

The Great Lakes temperatures cooled dramatically due to the recent strong winds turning over each Lake by blowing warm water east and upwelling cold water to the surface. The cooler November is also bringing the water temperatures down. Now it will take much-colder-than-normal air to set off excessive lake-effect snow.

Lake-effect snow can seem confusing, but knowing the basics helps: For people in Metro Detroit, this means staying alert, watching the weather, and being ready for sudden changes. Winter around the Great Lakes always keeps things interesting, and lake-effect snow is one of the reasons why.

Scattered snow showers are expected Thursday and the weekend in Southeast Michigan, the NWS Detroit reported. Washtenaw, Lenawee and Monroe counties are expected to see a light dusting of less than one inch of snow coupled with strong winds.

Winds will howl, temperatures will drop and the flakes will fly and pile up around the Great Lakes from Wednesday to Friday with impacts ranging from snow-clogged roads and travel disruptions to downed trees and power outages,

Colder temperatures will prevail in the eastern US with significant snow accumulation, leading to severe travel disruptions into Saturday. Heavy lake effect snow and gusty winds are forecast across the Great Lakes,