(WWJ) Slick and treacherous road conditions are a concern for many Metro Detroiters, with freezing rain in the forecast mid-week.
The National Weather Service has issued an Ice Storm Warning for Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair, Livingston and Washtenaw counties, in effect from noon on Wednesday through 4 a.m. Thursday.
Forecasters say "significant icing" is expected, with total snow and sleet accumulations of up to two inches and ice accumulations of two to five tenths of an inch.
Snow and sleet is expected to develop around noon Wednesday and become all sleet before changing to freezing rain late in the day. Freezing rain will continue in the evening with significant icing occurring before tapering off
Wednesday night.
The NWS warns that power outages and tree damage are likely due to the ice, and that "travel could be nearly impossible."
"Travel is strongly discouraged," the NWS added. "If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency."
Depending on when temperatures drop below freezing, the hazardous conditions could impact the morning or the evening commute.
Meanwhile, parts of Southeast Michigan not covered by the Ice Storm Warning — including Wayne, Monroe and Lenawee counties — are under a Winter Weather Advisory from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Wednesday.
In these areas, forecasters say mixed precipitation expected, with total snow and sleet accumulations less than one inch, and ice accumulations of one tenth to two tenths of an inch.
While there's not much snow expected in Metro Detroit, areas further north could see plenty of it, with parts of Genesee County expected to get 3-4 inches and the northern part of the Thumb bracing for up to 6-8 inches.
AccuWeather meteorologist Brian Thompson tells WWJ in areas south of Detroit, drivers could see some slick travel due to freezing rain for a period of time on Wednesday, but travel "probably won't be bad all the time, as temperatures will be hovering near the freezing mark."
"Most treated surfaces, at least, probably will be mostly wet," Thompson said, noting road conditions across the area will be something to keep an eye on throughout the day.
But further north, conditions are expected to be much worse. In the areas under the Ice Storm Warning, Michigan State Police First Lt. Mike Shaw predicts drivers won't be able to reach anywhere near posted speed limits.
He says anyone who does have to venture out in the dangerous conditions should be "super, super cautious."
"You won't be able to do the speed limit. You probably won't even be able to do half the speed limit out there," he said in a video posted to Twitter. "So if you have an opportunity maybe to work from home or wait 'til later on in the day to see how the temperatures change, if that ice on the roadways melts, I would take advantage of that opportunity if I was you."
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."
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