WEATHER UPDATE: Thursday, Friday Snowfall Could Top 6 Inches
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - Road Commissions for Wayne and Oakland County are prepping trucks with thousands of tons of salt for a major snowfall expected to start hitting metro Detroit at about 7 p.m. Thursday.
WWJ-TV Chief Meteorologist Jim Madaus said the storm could bring up to about 6 inches of snow to parts of southeast Michigan by Friday afternoon.
A snow emergency has been issued for Birmingham, Dearborn, Westland and St. Clair Shores as of Thursday evening.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for the southern and central portions of the state starting Thursday afternoon and running into Friday. Hazardous road conditions are expected for the Thursday evening and Friday morning commute.
The Weather Service says a strengthening low pressure system tracking across the Great Lakes will bring a widespread area of precipitation into southeast Michigan Thursday and Friday.
It's expected to begin as a mix of rain and snow at about 7 p.m. Thursday and into early Friday. A second band of snow will start falling at about 7 a.m. Friday, Madaus said. More snowfall is expected in suburbs north of Detroit; those in the south may get more sleet and ice.
"Uncertainty exists in the exact track of the low, with a more northerly trajectory perhaps allowing a wintry mix to persist longer for areas closer to the Ohio border," the Weather Service said.
E-mail us your best photo of the snow storm. We'll be creating a gallery with your photos. Please include your name and a sentence about the photo so we can give credit where it is due.
View photos from last year's snow storms.
Here's the forecast from the CBS Detroit Weather Team:
Thursday Night - Overcast with a chance of rain, then snow and a chance of rain after midnight. Low of 32F with a windchill as low as 25F. Winds from the ESE at 10-15 mph shifting to the North after midnight. Chance of precipitation 80%. Snow accumulations of 1 in. possible.
Friday - Overcast with a chance of snow and a chance of rain. High of 36F with a windchill as low as 23F. Winds from the NW at 15-20 mph. Chance of snow 60%.
Friday Night - Overcast with a chance of snow and rain showers in the evening, then partly cloudy. Low of 25F with a windchill as low as 19F. Winds from the NW at 5-20 mph. Chance of snow 20%.
Saturday - Clear in the morning, then overcast. High of 36F with a windchill as low as 16F. Winds from the NW at 10-20 mph.
Saturday Night - Overcast in the evening, then partly cloudy. Low of 21F. Winds from the WSW at 5-15 mph shifting to the NW after midnight.
Sunday - Partly cloudy in the morning, then clear. High of 37F with a windchill as low as 16F. Winds from the ESE at 5-20 mph.
Know before you go: Keep it tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 for traffic and weather, every 10 minutes on the 8s.
Check the CBS Detroit weather page for the extended forecast and up-to-the-minute information.
Sign up for severe weather text alerts: Text STORM to 95001
For daily weather forecast text alerts: Text FORECAST to 95001
