Photo by Joel Bissell | MLive

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By Tanda Gmiter | MLive

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Somehow, you know you might not like the forecast you're about to see when the National Weather Service prefaces it by saying, "Please take a deep breath before reading on ..."

Well Michigan friends, that's what deep-winter point we've entered: a storm rollercoaster with three to four systems expected to hit Michigan in the next 10 days.

So get ready to put your arms up and scream - if we're still on the amusement park analogy - because the first of these storms is set to sweep through Monday night and last until early Wednesday.

The NWS is calling it a "significant weather" system. It's a mix that packs snow, freezing rain and gusty winds. Tuesday night will likely be the worst of it, with high winds and blowing snow leading to poor visibility on the roads.

But there are a few things that remain unclear, even though we're getting pretty close to the start time for this storm:

** The precise storm track and timing: This will determine what type of precipitation your area will get, and when you'll see snow change to rain.

** How much snow/ice each area of the state will see.

So this is a system that we'll need to watch closely later today and early Monday to see how the forecast firms up - and what it means for you.

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Photo by Cory Morse | MLive

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#1 Storm Track: 3 or 4 storms could hit Michigan over the next 10 days

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Looking at the upcoming 7-10 days, the potential for active winter weather continues! Posted by US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan on Saturday, February 9, 2019

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Monday night's storm is the just the first in a series of winter storms that look lined up to sweep across The Plains and into the Great Lakes between now and late February.

The National Weather Service describes the storm chain this way:

"A perfectly placed storm track will continue to bring a series of storm systems and the potential for impactful winter weather across the Great Lakes through at least the next 7 to 10 days."

MLive Meteorologist Mark Torregrossa has detailed this storm series. Check here for that timeline.

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#2 Hazardous Travel

Forecasters are predicting the Monday/Tuesday storm will create possibly hazardous travel situations, because of the blowing snow and gusty winds.

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Photo by Joel Bissell | MLive.com

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Photo by Neil Blake | MLive

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#3 From Saginaw to the Thumb to Detroit

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This scenario is expected: Snow, freezing rain or sleet transitioning to all rain by Tuesday.

Areas around Saginaw and the Thumb could get 3 to 4 inches of snow, while spots to the south, like Ann Arbor and Detroit, could see 1 to 2 inches.

If we see ice accumulation it will be higher in this southern area, from AA to Detroit.

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**INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS NOW OUTDATED. PLEASE SEE LATEST POST FOR UPDATED SNOWFALL AND ICE ACCUMULATION... Posted by US National Weather Service Detroit / Pontiac Michigan on Sunday, February 10, 2019

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#4 Northern Lower Michigan

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Please take a deep breath before reading on... Another impactful winter storm is expected to move through the Great... Posted by US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan on Saturday, February 9, 2019

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Photo by Cory Morse | MLive

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#5 From Grand Rapids to Lansing, south to Indiana border

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***PLEASE SEE THE MOST RECENT POST OR weather.gov/grandrapids FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THIS STORM.*** Yes, we... Posted by US National Weather Service Grand Rapids Michigan on Sunday, February 10, 2019

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Here are the highlights for this area from the NWS:

Snow is expected to accumulate along and north of I-96.

Closer to I-94, snow is expected to change to a "wintry mix" of snow, freezing rain or sleet.

Blowing snow could cause poor visibility on the roads for motorists Tuesday night and early Wednesday.

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Photo by Cory Morse | MLive

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#6 Upper Peninsula

Some parts of the U.P. could see snowfall rates of more than an inch per hour by Tuesday.

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Photo by Cory Morse | MLive

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Hang in there, Michigan

Just a reminder, in case you desperately need it: Spring officially starts on March 20.

So for those of us who are at the end of our frozen, ice-covered, sick-of-shoveling, frayed rope, we only need to hang on another six weeks.

Maybe.