SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The Upper Peninsula is bracing for a major winter storm. The storm is expected Thursday night through Saturday and could bring as much as a foot of snow to the U.P.

To make matters worse, winds will increase as the storm pushes into Friday.

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Officials are encouraging people who have to drive across the U.P. to do so before Thursday night or wait until Sunday.

Snow could spread to northwest Lower Michigan on Friday night and into Saturday.