Weather Alert: Winter Storm Warning
SOUTHFIELD (WWJ) - Spring may have sprung, but it sure doesn't seem like it as freezing rain, mixed with sleet falls overnight in Southeast Michigan.
A Winter Storm Warning is now in effect through 8 p.m. Wednesday for areas north of 8 Mile Road. This includes Livingston, Macomb, Oakland and St. Clair counties.
Wayne and Washtenaw counties are under a Winter Storm Watch.
The National Weather Service predicted rain, freezing ran and sleet, which will cause problems for drivers during the Wednesday morning commute. For locations that experience a slow-moving line of heavy rainfall and possibly thunder, ice accumulations of one half-inch to one inch will be possible.
Significant icing of power lines and tree limbs is possible Tuesday night and Wednesday.
Craig Bryson, with the Road Commission for Oakland County told WWJ his crews are prepared.
"The trucks are ready, the drivers are on call. We've got pleny of salt on hand. It's just up to mother nature at this point," Bryson said.
Bryson said that, depending on how bad the weather gets, they expect to work through the night and into the day Wednesday.
Bob Mykytiak, superintendent of the Macomb County Department of Road, said they are preparing their trucks to make sure they are loaded with salt and blades ahead of tonight's storm.
Mykytiak, said that, because of the heavy storms this season, they are already over their budget.
"But we won't hold back from performing any winter maintenance for that. We'll either cut back on some summer activities, or we'll go to our fund balance just probably take the money from there. We've got plenty of salt for this storm and the rest of the season, so we don't anticipate any problems," he said.
Mykytiak advised motorists to take it slow on the roads and keep a good distance between other drivers.
Keep it tuned to WWJ for the latest on the storm, during Traffic and Weather, every 10 minutes on the 8s, 24 hours a day. - Check the roads on our Traffic Page.
Here's the Forecast:
Tuesday Night – Cloudy. Rain with a chance of thunderstorms and freezing rain. Light glazing expected. Lows 32 to 36. East winds 10 to 15 mph…except winds as high as 25 mph in the city of Detroit. Chance of precipitation 100 percent.
Wednesday - Cloudy. Rain with a chance of thunderstorms and freezing rain through early afternoon…then freezing rain…snow and sleet. Light glazing expected. Snow and sleet accumulations up to a half inch. Highs 36 to 40. East winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation 100 percent.
Wednesday Night – Mostly cloudy. Scattered snow showers. Lows 24 to 28. Chance of snow 50 percent.
Thursday – Mostly cloudy during the morning. Partly sunny during the afternoon. A chance of flurries. Highs 34 to 38. Mostly clear overnight. Lows 16 to 20.
