Snow, Dropping Temperatures Leave Detroit-Area Roads Slick, Flights Delayed
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - The National Weather Service is warning of hazardous road conditions across parts of southeast Michigan due to falling snow and dropping temperatures.
Winter weather advisories have been issued through early Sunday afternoon in the Detroit and Ann Arbor areas.
Freeways in Detroit were slick, causing most motorists to drive below posted speeds and airlines to delay or cancel flights. About two inches of snow was expected to fall in and around Detroit with temperatures dropping into the teens Sunday night.
Michigan State Police Lieutenant Mike Shaw has some winter weather driving reminders:
"We are reminding folks to go through the same things we go through every year; just because the speed limit says 55 doesn't mean that you should be doing that speed."
Shaw says the department has seen already 36 accidents Sunday.
Should you be involved in a spinout or accident, first make sure that you and any passengers are okay.
"Decide what you want to do about your traffic crash - the state of Michigan does require that if you have more than $1000 in damage to your car you are required to make a report."
He says slow it down and if you're not a practiced winter driver -- consider waiting it out -- limit the non-essential road trips.
Dozens of delays at Detroit Metro Airport this morning because of the weather. At one point arrivals and departures were put on hold -- as crews worked to clear the runways. Airport spokesman Mike Conway says it's all hands on deck.
"The wind and the dropping temperatures are making this snow very slippery," says Conway. "So in order to make sure we have absolutely safe pavement it's taking us a little to clear the runways than normal."
Conway says they're using everything they have -- sand, deicing, and plowing. He says if you're headed to the airport to fly out or pick someone up -- check on the status of your flight.
Trucks will be out on the roads according to Tiffani Jackson with the Wayne County Department of Public Services.
"We'll have about 99 trucks on the ground and they'll begin to salt the county as the rain transitions to snow -- if the snow starts to stick or accumulate then we'll plow as that becomes necessary," says Jackson.
An inch of snow was forecast for Grand Rapids. About three inches could fall in the Traverse City and Saginaw areas.
Over 6,000 energy customers lost power in the Dearborn area, and a number of scattered outages around metro Detroit continued Sunday.
Additional information on the storm – including DTE's online Power Outage Map.
Check the CBS Detroit weather page for the extended forecast and up-to-the-minute information.
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