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

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

“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

It may not be what you’d expect to see in the middle of an Arctic blast: a “snownado.” Tom Gifford spotted one along the lakeshore in Muskegon Wednesday:

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.

“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.

The families of two males in West Michigan killed while being pursued by police are seeking justice. A 25-year-old was rammed by a Michigan State Police cruiser while a 17-year-old was struck by a Kent County Sheriff's deputy.