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142K without power in Michigan as winter storm dumps heavy snow
A winter storm dumped heavy snow on parts of the Lower Peninsula on Friday, creating slick driving conditions blamed for multiple car crashes across Metro Detroit and knocking out electricity to more than 142,823 Michigan customers.
At 11 p.m. Friday, DTE Energy reported about 96,522 electric customers without power in its southeast Michigan service area, while Consumers Energy said more than 46,301 of its customers were without power in other parts of the Lower Peninsula.
Snowfall estimates for southeast Michigan included up to 4 inches of snowfall in Adrian, Detroit, Pontiac and Port Huron, according to the National Weather Service.
“The heaviest precipitation has exited southeast Michigan, with a lull in the winds as well,” the weather service said on X, formerly Twitter. “Mainly light drizzle and light rain south of I-69 as temperatures rise into the mid 30s to around 40 degrees.”
More:Get the latest Accuweather forecast and radar for your area of Michigan here
The Michigan State Police’s Second District, which oversees Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties, said Friday evening that troopers responded to more than two dozen crashes Friday, and advised motorists to decrease speeds, increase distance between vehicles and buckle up.
“Troops have handled 30 preventable crashes so far today. Mostly violations of basic speed law. Slow down, increase your following distance and buckle up,” MSP said on X, formerly Twitter.
The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for Otsego, Montmorency, Crawford, Oscoda, Ogemaw, Cheboygan, Presque Isle, Alpena, Alcona and Iosco counties from 5 p.m. Friday through 7 p.m. Saturday.
The National Weather Service cautioned motorists to “be prepared for variable roads conditions.”
“Total snow accumulations of 10 to 15 inches anticipated with localized amounts of 18 inches possible,” the weather service said. “Frequent wind gusts of 35 to 50 mph expected this evening and tonight.”
The warning added: “Travel could be very difficult to impossible during this time. Widespread blowing snow is expected to lead to significantly reduced visibilities for several hours. Significant drifting may lead to some impassible secondary roadways. Strong winds could cause tree damage and result in power outages.”
The National Weather Service also issued winter storm warnings for other areas across the state, including Grand Rapids, Traverse City, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Mount Pleasant, Saginaw, Midland and the Upper Peninsula.
Parts of west Michigan could see 8-13 inches of snow.
The weather service in Grand Rapids said at 7 p.m., it measured 5.6 inches of snow accumulation since 1 p.m., with 1.8 inches that fell since 6 p.m, adding that lake-effect snow was expected to continue through the weekend.
“This is a denser, wetter snow than tomorrow’s lake effect,” the weather service said.
Temperatures on Saturday in Grand Rapids were expected to top out in the high 20s, with westerly wind gusts up to 40 mph.
Metro Detroit is under a weather advisory through Saturday due to possible dangerous conditions with snow and strong winds, according to the National Weather Service’s station in White Lake Township.
Just before 7:30 p.m., the weather service predicted moderate to heavy snow would continue north of Interstate 94, with decreasing intensity south as some rain mixes in. Accumulation totals up to 3 inches could occur through 10 p.m.
NWS expects the region’s heaviest snow accumulation to fall Friday, with possibilities of up to an inch of snow per hour, according to a social media post from the weather service.
Residents in parts of Metro Detroit reported hearing thundersnow Friday night, the National Weather Service’s office in White Lake Township said.
Power outages across the area could occur with winds over 40 miles per hour expected from Friday night into Sunday, the weather service said.
Residents can also expect wind chills driving colder temperatures Saturday to drop below zero by Sunday amid arctic air.
To curtail the chilling temperatures, the city of Detroit announced Friday that several respite locations and warming centers were available for use. Recreation centers and public library branches, however, would be closed Monday for the federal holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and would reopen Tuesday, Mayor Mike Duggan’s office said.
Four warming centers, the city said, would provide two meals, showers, sleeping accommodations and housing assistance services to residents experiencing homelessness.
A list of the warming centers and respite locations can be found here.
Consumers Energy is planning for a statewide impact from the high winds and the 10-14 inches of wet, heavy snow expected along Lake Michigan’s shoreline, said Chris Laird, vice president of electric operations for the Jackson-based utility.
“Winter is finally here for all of us,” Laird said. “We know that it’s important to keep the lights on for Consumers Energy, for our customers. We’re going to do everything we can to get power back on as quickly and safely as we can.”
With 400 crews available from Grand Rapids to Bay City, the utility company will prioritize hospitals, police and fire departments, water treatment plants and broadcast media, he said.
Consumers Energy will work as quickly as possible to get to everyone impacted, but restorations may take longer than anticipated as blizzard conditions pose a risk to workers restoring power lines, Laird said.
Crews recently attended to an outage impacting more than 100,000 households, 99% of which they were able to restore within 24 hours of the first reports, he said.
Keeping outages short remains a key goal for Consumers Energy through this weekend, Laird said.
“This storm event is projected to last a little longer than other events that we’ve had in the past,” said Katie Carey, Consumers Energy’s director of external relations. “Once we get a lay of the land, then we’ll be able to better move crews where they need to go.”
People should use caution and plan ahead by charging their devices, staying 25 feet away from downed power lines and following safety warnings with outdoor generators, Laird said.
DTE Energy also anticipates impacts across the company’s full service territory as temperatures dip, said Bill Hutchinson, the utility’s director of storm emergency preparedness and response.
“While we hope the impact to our system is limited, we’ve set up our entire storm incident command to plan for the potential customer outages as a result of the weather that I had mentioned,” Hutchinson said.
Drivers should plan for slow commute times as untreated roads could become slicker with less visibility, NWS Detroit said.
Residents and visitors on the road should also plan ahead as snowfall accumulates, Michigan State Police said in a press release.
“Avoid travel if possible and check in on your vulnerable loved ones,” MSP Captain Kevin Sweeney said in the release. “Let’s all work together to keep ourselves, families, friends and neighbors safe.”
People can prepare by planning ahead and checking car, household and emergency equipment ahead of time, according to MSP.
Drivers should check their tire pressure, wiper blades and lights ahead of a trip, along with bringing an emergency preparedness kit. They can also prepare by avoiding travel or checking the weather and route ahead of their destination, state police added.
Meanwhile, the weather is affecting other plans in southeast Michigan.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board canceled live horse races scheduled at Northville Downs on Friday.
“The safety and well-being of the horses, jockeys, staff, and patrons are of utmost priority,” MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams said in a statement. “The forecasted snowstorm and its unpredictable nature can generate numerous challenges that could compromise the integrity of the races and the safety of our participants, so I have issued an order that today’s races be cancelled due to the weather.”
Royal Oak Schools canceled all after-school and evening activities on Friday.
Auburn Hills has declared a snow emergency through 8 a.m. Sunday, meaning parking is prohibited on city streets to allow snow removal crews room to clear the roads and neighborhoods.
The storm is also delaying until Jan. 16 the roadway restoration work that had been slated to close several lanes and ramps on Interstate 696, the Michigan Department of Transportation said.
Once the weather passes, westbound traffic on Interstate 696 will shift over to the northbound M-10 Northwestern Highway starting Tuesday at 9 a.m.
Westbound I-696 will also shift to northbound M-10 and back on Jan. 17 at 9 a.m., after which the interstate will remain as two lanes until early May, according to MDOT.
JAimery@detroitnews.com
