Colder temperatures and more wintry conditions will hit southeast Michigan heading into the weekend after an earlier round of snow walloped Metro Detroit.
A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for Mason, Lake Oceana, Newaygo, Muskegon and Ottawa counties until 7 a.m. Saturday. The National Weather Service said snow accumulations in southwest and west central Michigan could reach between 3-7 inches
As of Thursday afternoon, skies were clear and snow plow drivers were working to clear roadways of more than 6 inches of snow that accumulated in some parts of southeast Michigan. Meanwhile, weather forecasters said up to another 3 inches could be coming on Friday.
A Winter Weather Statement remains for Kent, Allegan and Van Buren counties until 7 a.m. Saturday; snow amounts between 2-5 inches are predicted in those areas. In Leelanau, Benzie and Manistee counties, lake effect snow is expected to produce 3-6 inches, with higher totals expected along the M-22 corridor, the weather service said.
The new round of expected snowfall follows the hit Metro Detroit took Wednesday into Thursday, when hundreds of schools closed, along with some municipal facilities.
Wixom saw 6 inches of snow, Rochester saw 5.8 inches, Romulus about 4 inches and about 2 inches fell on Detroit, according to the weather service.
In roughly 24 hours between Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, the Michigan Department of Transportation reported at least 44 crashes that affected traffic on Metro Detroit highways, including several that backed up traffic for miles. On Thursday, Michigan State Police said its troopers across the region responded to 106 reported crashes.
The snow also impacted the Thursday morning commute. MDOT reported several crashes and disabled vehicles on area freeways.
Macomb County’s Department of Roads said Thursday that traffic was moving below posted speeds. It also said crews continue to work on snow-covered roads across the county. The department’s snowplow drivers were patrolling all night Wednesday, clearing drifting snow and treating slick conditions, it added.
Officials for the Road Commission for Oakland County said its plows and salt trucks remained out on heavier-traveled roads across the county throughout the night and into Thursday. The agency said Thursday’s very cold temperatures were slowing the salt’s effectiveness of workers were applying brine to the roadways to help melt the ice.
The Wayne County Roads Division’s COMPASS map showed more than 30 of its snow plows and service trucks on roads early Thursday afternoon.
The snowstorm also prompted dozens of school districts to cancel classes on Thursday, including the Detroit Public Schools Community District, Birmingham Public Schools, and L’Anse Creuse Public Schools.
Detroit’s Chief Public Health Officer, Denise Fair Razo, declared a cold-weather health emergency for the city on Wednesday. As a result, the city has opened an overnight stand-by shelter and respite locations to help residents escape the extreme cold.
The stand-by shelter, run by the city and Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, is located at 13130 Woodward Ave. The site will close at noon on Tuesday.
Officials said the city has more than 1,700 emergency shelter and drop-in center beds that it provides with local partners. Individuals in a housing crisis or who need emergency shelter should call the Detroit Housing Resource HelpLine at (866) 313-2520.
The city’s recreation centers and public library branches will also operate as respite locations during their business hours.
Meanwhile, Thursday was colder than normal with a high temperature of 17 as of about 2 p.m., according to weather observations recorded at Detroit Metro Airport. That compares with a high of 39 on Wednesday and Detroit’s normal average high temperature for January: 32.
Wind chills at the airport were recorded at 3 degrees during the afternoon but had been as cold as minus 5 around 10 a.m. Thursday.
NWS data shows that snow showers had tapered off by midday and skies were clear in the afternoon.
But the respite will likely be short-lived: More snow is on the way, NWS officials said.
“A series of clipper systems brings much colder air and accumulating snow potential to southeast Michigan on Friday and into the weekend,” officials said.
They also warn that motorists face slower commute times on Friday due to snow-covered, slick roadways and low visibility.
Flakes are expected to continue falling Friday evening, with an accumulation of 1 to 3 inches. The mercury on Friday could reach 34.
Saturday might see a continuation of this week’s accumulating snow theme, according to the weather service. And the frigid weather conditions are expected to linger through next week.
Weather forecasters believe an Arctic air mass will move into the Great Lakes, bringing “dangerously cold wind chills,” especially overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning.
Extended Detroit forecast
Friday: Snow; high 34, low 26.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy; high 32, low 14.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy; high 22, low 11.
Monday: Mostly cloudy; high 19, low 5.
Tuesday: Partly sunny; high 14, low 5.
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, high 22.
Source: National Weather Service
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