It’s back.
Snow that arrived over southeast Michigan on Tuesday, prompting school closures, lingered on Wednesday, making the morning commute messy.
Old Man Winter kept his promise.
In Metro Detroit, about an inch of snow had fallen in White Lake Township, where the National Weather Service’s local office is located, by about 1 p.m. Tuesday, the agency said. It also measured about an inch of snow at Detroit Metro Airport in Romulus at the same time on Tuesday, according to the service.
By about 8 a.m. on Wednesday, 5.4 inches of snow had fallen on Wixom over 10 hours, weather service officials said. NWS said 4.5 inches landed in Shelby Township by 9 a.m., and 3.8 inches of snow was dropped on Farmington Hills by 7:45 a.m.
Several Metro Detroit public school districts announced their buildings would be closed on Wednesday due to expected ice and snow.
By 7 a.m., the Michigan Department of Transportation reported multiple crashes on Metro Detroit roadways, including Interstate 696, Interstate 75, Interstate 96, and Interstate 275.
Snowplowing crews were deployed on Tuesday in anticipation of the weather, officials for Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne county road departments said.
“Crews will be working throughout the duration of the snowfall,” the Macomb County Department of Roads said Tuesday on its Facebook page. “If you’ll be on the road, please remember to drive safely and according to conditions.”
Macomb County officials said Wednesday on X that the department’s crews were patrolling state and primary routes with more than 45 trucks on the roads.
“Crews will be working throughout the duration of the storm,” the officials said. “Traffic is moving below posted speeds with a mix of snow and rain falling across Macomb County.”
Wayne County Department of Public Services on Tuesday reminded drivers to use caution while out on the roads.
“While our DPS crews will be out salting and monitoring the roadways, we want residents to take it slow in ice and snow,” the department said on Facebook.
On Wednesday morning, Michigan’s Office of Highway Safety Planning on X warned motorists, “If you must travel today, please buckle up, drive for the road conditions, and leave plenty of room between you and other vehicles to allow for safe braking. Drive safe, Michigan!”
Some communities declared snow emergencies for their residents.
Auburn Hills officials, for example, said the city had a snow emergency in effect from noon Wednesday through noon Thursday. As a result, parking on city streets during that period is forbidden, and violators will be ticketed or towed at the vehicle owners’ expense.
Birmingham, Pontiac, and Troy have also declared snow emergencies. Birmingham’s is in effect until 5 p.m. Thursday, Pontiac’s until 8 a.m. Friday, and Troy did not provide an end to the parking ban on its website.
Early Wednesday, the National Weather Service said a winter weather advisory remains in effect for areas along I-69 and points north of the freeway until 4 p.m. NWS said snowfall totals could reach 3 to 6 inches there. South of I-69, snowfall amounts ranging from a dusting to 4 inches are expected.
In Metro Detroit, rain or a mix of rain and snow showers is expected along and south of M-59 across the area, meteorologists with the weather service said. They also said it will change back to all snow by the afternoon.
Snow should taper off in the afternoon, according to officials, then colder air that will drop temperatures into the teens follows Thursday morning.
Detroit’s high temperature on Wednesday is expected to reach 36, and the overnight low will fall to 18 degrees. The city’s average monthly high temperature in December is 37.2 and the average monthly low is 25.3.
NWS also said that a weather pattern is expected to continue to bring arctic air into the region later this week and into the weekend. The agency warns there’s also the potential for sub-zero wind chills and additional rounds of light accumulating snow.
Extended Detroit forecast
Thursday: Partly sunny; high 28, low 17.
Friday: Mostly cloudy; high 28, low 16
Saturday: Mostly cloudy; high 24, low 10.
Sunday: Partly sunny; high 20, low 8.
Monday: Partly sunny; high 22, low 13.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, high 31.
Source: National Weather Service
@CharlesERamirez
