Snow Still Threatens Lake Areas
PORT HURON (WWJ) The big snow fall may have decreased but many areas are still dealing with the ongoing snow storm.
Tracy (last name not given) who works for a Chrysler plant in Marysville says it's snowing pretty badly in the Port Huron area.
"The plant sits right on the river here, we are getting the lake-effect snow here from Lake St. Claire, and it's coming down pretty darn good right now. We have snow drifts up against the windows of the cafeteria that are three or four feet high," Tracy added, "the snow is falling so heavily that the visibility outside his window is very low.
Snow Storm Weather Wrap-Up:
The National Weather Service reports 9 inches of snow in Clarkston, 6 1/2 inches reported in Plymouth, close to 6 inches in Bloomfield Hills, 5 inches in Rochester Hills, Lapeer and Marine City. People in Melvindale and Grosse Ile were reporting 4 to 5-foot snow drifts. In Mid-Michigan, Midland was reporting eight inches of snow.
The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids reports 10 to 15 inches of snow has fallen in parts of southwestern Michigan including Grand Rapids and the surrounding area.
Sleet was reported in Southfield, Westland and Berkley early Wednesday, but around 4 a.m. it had changed back to snow.
Later Wednesday morning, many WWJ listeners were wondering what all the fuss has been about.
"They get everybody excited, here, about a foot or eighteen inches, or whatever they were saying -- and I got two or three here in Ypsi," said one caller.
Other callers said, however, if your area hasn't been plowed -- you're in for trouble.
"I-94-Telegraph to Rossenville Road has not been plowed -- snowdrifted; speeds about 20 to 25 miles an hour -- stay in the grooves," said a man in Wayne County.
"M-14, eastbound, from (US)23 to (I)275 hasn't been touched yet, and there's something like a foot worth of drift over the entire freeway," another caller said Wednesday morning.
Accuweather's Dean DeVore says drier air has worked its way around the storm system, and that will have an impact of the rest of Wednesday.
"The primary threat as we go through the balk of the day is going to be the blowing and drifting, as the winds continue to be brisk -- poor visibility and slippery travel," DeVore said Wednesday morning.
"In terms of additional snowfall, in and around the city, I'm thinking another just a couple of inches. And, maybe two to four inches if you're headed towards Port Huron and farther north, he said.
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Hundreds of schools, including all public schools in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties were closed. Click here for complete school closing information.
Roads and parking lots were snow-covered and slippery. At one gas station at Eight Mile and Inkster in Redford Township a sports car spun its tires as it tried to go up the incline to the parking lot. After several tries, the driver backed up and tried another entrance.
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The blizzard conditions forced General Motors to cancel first shift operations at the Orion Assembly and Warren Transmission plants. Orion workers were to call 888-774-8888 for updates on work schedules. Warren workers were asked to call 877-570-0434 for updates.
The weather also created a parts shortage for some Chrysler plants. The automaker cancelled first production shifts at Jefferson North, Sterling Heights Assembly and Stamping, Warren Truck Assembly and Warren Stamping, GEMA, Trenton North and Trenton South, Detroit Axle, Toledo Assembly Complex, Toledo Machining, Mack I & II, and Brampton Assembly (Ontario). A spokesman says a decision regarding second shift will be made before noon Wednesday. - Get more info here -
Due to the winter storm several offices and government buildings were closed including the Detroit Science Center, Wayne County and Lapeer County Circuit Court and City of Lapeer offices. Click here for other closings.
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