SOUTHFIELD (WWJ) - With up to eight inches of snow in the forecast for Southeast Michigan, road crews are gearing up for what's expected to be a busy weekend.
While police are urging the public to take it slow during the storm, Road Commission for Oakland County spokesman Craig Bryson has this message for drivers:
"Please give the snowplows the room they need to do their job."
"These are very large pieces of equipment," Bryson told WWJ Newsradio 950. "They take a lot of room to turn, they don't stop as quickly as a car does. So please back off, give them space, don't follow right behind them, don't cut them off, and let them do what they need to do, you know? Don't crowd the plow."
Their contingent consists of more than 130 vehicles, he said, including those big orange snow plows, pickup trucks and independent contractors.
Bryson says depending on the amount of snow that does fall, some road crews could be working 16-hour shifts in order to keep the snow clear.
"This is what we do in the wintertime, so we're prepared for this kind of stuff," Bryson said. "We have plans in place, on paper. It's just sometimes a matter of tweaking them."
"Because it's hitting — this is the one good thing — it's hitting overnight on a weekend, we don't have to worry about morning rush."
Multiple local municipalities have posted snow emergencies, meaning cars have to be moved from the streets.
Auburn Hills, Birmingham, Farmington, Harper Woods, Hazel Park, Oak Park, Romulus and Warren, are among the cities that issued snow emergencies ahead of the storm. This is not an exhaustive list, however, and times vary — so check your city or township's social media for information relevant to you.
Those who don't move their vehicles could be ticketed and/or have their vehicles towed.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 10 p.m. Friday until noon Saturday for Livingston, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Wayne, Lenawee and Monroe counties. All other counties in southeast Michigan are under a Winter Weather Advisory for the same time span.
Forecasters say snow will develop between 10 p.m. Friday and 3 a.m. Saturday with a chance for very high snowfall rates. The heaviest snowfall will take place in the 1 to 7 a.m. time frame on Saturday. with snow accumulations of 5 to 8 inches are expected by Saturday afternoon.