DETROIT (WWJ) - Winter is not done with Metro Detroit just yet — while Central, South Central, Southwest and West Michigan are bracing for a winter storm, meteorologists say portions of Southeast Michigan could see more snow, or even a wintery mix, over the next 24 hours.
Over a dozen counties, including Muskegon, Greenville, Alma, Grand Haven, Jenison, Grand Rapids, Ionia, Midland, Bay, Huron, Saginaw and Tuscola, were issued a Winter Storm Warning on Saturday as heavy snow — with accumulations between five to eight inches — expected.
A Winter Weather Advisory was posted for another two dozen counties, including Genesee, Lapeer, Sanilac and Shiawassee counties, where three to six inches of snow could fall.
The warnings and advisories are in effect now until 10 a.m. Sunday.
The National Weather Service said travel will become treacherous for anyone under the warning, as well as those making their way Up North from the Metro Detroit area or coming back from the northern counties.
Snowfall is expected to reach or exceed an inch per hour for periods of time during the storm, experts said.
The heaviest snow is predicted to fall north of M-59, in a almost horizontal path stretching from Muskegon to Saginaw, but Southeast Michigan cities won't go untouched.
A Hazardous Weather Outlook posted for St. Clair, Livingston, Oakland and Macomb warns of a wintery mix of snow and rain that will affect the area overnight.
The NWS said accumulations could reach anywhere from one to four inches.
Cities such as Ann Arbor and Detroit have a higher chance of seeing sleet or freezing rain instead of snow, but a flurry or two amounting to a trace to 1 inch cannot be ruled out.
The NWS said areas south of I-94 will mostly see rain.
The system is expected to taper off in the early morning hours on Sunday and clear completely by 10 a.m.
Experts warned that snow covered roads would make for slippery and dangerous driving conditions. Heavy snowfall could also cause low visibility and possible power outages.
The same system moving across Michigan caused a massive traffic pileup southern Wisconsin on Friday, which blocked Interstate 39/90 for hours, authorities said.
Dozens of people were reported injured.