SOUTHFIELD (WWJ) - More than 400 flights have been canceled or delayed at Detroit Metro Airport as an icy winter storm swept across the area Wednesday, leaving hundreds of thousands without power.
Only three counties in all of Michigan are not under winter weather alerts as a messy storm system begins to impact the state, but experts say it's not the snow or wind they're worried about the most — it's the ice.
The National Weather Service posted an Ice Storm Warning for Oakland, Macomb, St. Clair, Livingston and Washtenaw counties beginning at now in effect through 4 a.m. on Thursday as significant icing is expected to make travel "near impossible."
A mix of freezing rain and sleet is forecasted to accumulate between a quarter to half an inch of ice on surfaces.
"Snow and sleet is expected to develop through this morning before transitioning to freezing rain and sleet by midday," the NWS said. "Freezing rain will continue in the evening with significant icing occurring before tapering off Wednesday night."
Meteorologists warned that the amount of ice expected on roadways will quickly deteriorate conditions and make travel "nearly impossible" during the afternoon and evening commutes.
The WWJ Traffic Center has received tips of numerous crashes across all of Metro Detroit's major freeways throughout the afternoon.
As of 9:45 pm. DTE Energy was reporting more than 250,000 customers without power. Elsewhere in the state, Consumers Energy was reporting more than 160,000 homes and businesses in the dark. CHECK THE DTE OUTAGE MAP FOR THE LATEST UPDATES
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There have even been reports of thunder across the area. AccuWeather meteorologist Brian Thompson says it's "very rare" to see thunder in these conditions, but DTW is reporting "thunder freezing rain.
The airport has seen just under 250 cancelations and more than 160 delays, according to flightaware.com.
Bracing for the worst, many schools closed ahead of Wednesday's inclement weather and some local government offices have closed early. Oakland County offices closed at 2 p.m., while Livingston County offices closed earlier this morning. Pontiac City Hall has closed as has Birmingham city hall and the Baldwin Library and the Birmingham Museum.
In Macomb County, Sterling Heights City Hall and District Court, library and other public offices have already closed for the day. Police and other essential workers, like snow plow drivers, are still on the job.
Michigan State Police is also encouraging Michiganders and visitors to prepare for the weather which will hit almost the entire state. Roughly a foot of snow is forecasted to fall in the Upper Peninsula and northern, lower Michigan while heavy ice will glaze a path along Mid-Michigan and into Metro Detroit.
“We have enjoyed an unusually sunny February, but we are now reminded that it is still winter here in Michigan,” said Col. Joe Gasper, director of the MSP. “With this potentially dangerous storm hitting across the state, we advise all Michiganders to take precautions and avoid non-essential travel when possible.”
According to the NWS, the area between the I-96/I-69 and I-94 corridor was forecasted to be the hardest hit by ice, including the cities of Grand Rapids, Flint, Lansing and Jackson.
"If you must get on the road, be sure to have at least a half tank of gas, significantly reduce your speed and stay off closed roads," Mitts said.
Experts say anything near a quarter inch or more of ice will cause problems as cars become coated in ice and make it difficult to stop on roads and bridges. Power is also known to fail at this amount of accumulation.
But ice is crippling if it builds up to half inch or more. At this stage, widespread power outages for numerous days are expected as well as tree damage and dangerous travel.
“With potentially dangerous winter weather on the way, it is important to prepare and be ready ahead of time to keep yourself, your family, and your neighbors safe,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a press release from MSP. “The State of Michigan is closely watching conditions as they develop and taking action to prepare for winter weather impacts. We will continue working hard to protect the health and safety of Michiganders and are grateful for the dedicated first responders working to keep Michiganders safe this weekend.”
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AAA Spokesperson Meredith Mitts said in a prepared statement that residents should heed the warnings of local authorities and stay home if possible. If you must travel, drivers should prepared now for hazardous conditions.
AAA reminded drivers that they expect a high call volume during the storm and motorists can also request road assistance by using the AAA Mobile app or AAA.com.
If motorists become stranded on the road, AAA offered the following tips:
• Stay in the vehicle. Your car can provide shelter, allowing emergency responders to best locate you, and prevent you from being struck by an approaching vehicle. If you must get out of the car, ensure the surroundings are safe.
• To make the gas last longer, don’t leave the car running. If there is an extended traffic jam, turn off the engine for a period, then back on to reheat the inside, when it has gotten too cold again. Make sure the exhaust pipe is snow-free.
• Avoid driving on the shoulders or medians of highways to get around the traffic jam. These need to be kept clear for first responders, tow trucks, and emergency vehicles to get to the cause of the stoppage.
• Cold weather can shorten the range of electric vehicles. EV drivers should plan for more frequent stops for charging and identify the location of charging stations before you hit the road. AAA recommends “pre-heating” the inside of your electric vehicle to a comfortable temperature while still connected to the charger. This will reduce the vehicle’s battery demand to regulate cabin temperature at the onset of driving.
If residents have to travel during the storm for whatever reason, the first step they should take is to be prepared, AAA said. Here is a list of things drivers should keep in mind before getting behind the wheel:
• If you must be on the road, check the weather before setting out and change plans accordingly.
• Pack a well-stocked emergency kit with a cell phone car charger, first-aid kit; extra blankets, hats, gloves and coats; plenty of drinking water and non-perishable snacks for passengers, including pets; flashlight and extra batteries; reflective warning triangles; and an ice scraper or snow brush.
• Always drive at a safe speed that matches the prevailing visibility, traffic and road conditions – even if that means driving below the posted speed limit.
• Compensate for reduced traction by increasing your following distances (normally three to four seconds) to eight to ten seconds.
• Never crowd a plow. Allow sufficient room for maintenance vehicles and plows, stay at least 200 feet back and, if you need to pass, go to the other vehicle’s left. Be sure to watch for vehicles hidden by the snow cloud and the blades that extend out from the plow’s front and sides.
• Watch for icy surfaces on bridges and intersections, even if the rest of the road seems to be in good condition.
• Avoid braking on ice. If you’re approaching a patch of ice, brake during your approach. Control the skid. Applying pressure to your brakes while on ice will throw your car into a skid
• If you get stuck in snow or ice, straighten the wheel and accelerate slowly. Add sand or cat litter under the drive wheels to help avoid spinning the tires.
• If your tires lose traction, continue to look and steer in the direction you want to go. If the drive wheels start to spin or slide while going up a hill, ease off the accelerator slightly and then gently resume speed.
• Slow Down, Move Over. Avoid driving on shoulders or medians so first responders, tow truck operators and emergency vehicles can get to stranded motorists who are in dangerous roadside conditions.
For more tips like these, click here.
If driving cannot be avoided, AAA said motorists can help keep their vehicles on the road safe by checking the following:
• Remove ALL snow and ice from car – This includes the hood, roof and trunk, not just a small portion of the front windshield.
• Battery strength — Faulty batteries cause more car starting problems than any other factor. At 0 degrees, a good battery has 35 percent less starting power. Additionally, batteries that are 3-5 years old will have much less starting power in cold conditions.
• Tire inflation — Under-inflated tires can be dangerous, and may suffer damage. Tire air pressure decreases 1-2 psi for every 10 degree temperature drop.
• Wiper blades — The blades should completely clear the glass with each swipe. Replace any blade that leaves streaks or misses spots. In areas with snow, consider installing winter wiper blades that wrap the blade frame in a rubber boot to reduce ice and snow buildup.
• Washer fluid — Fill the windshield washer fluid reservoir with a winter cleaning solution that has antifreeze components to prevent it from freezing.
Stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 for traffic and weather updates, every 10 minute on the 8s. At home, tell Alexa to "Play WWJ nine-fifty."