DETROIT (WWJ) – The snow arrived little later than expected on Friday but, for some, it arrived just in time to make for slow, slippery drive home.

In all, three to five inches of snow is expected to fall on Southeast Michigan before Saturday.

“It doesn’t take long (for the roads to get bad),” said WWJ-TV weather forecaster Jill Washburn, earlier Friday. ”Just a half-inch of show compressed on the roadway will really slicken things up. The timing is going to be bad.”

By 6:30 p.m., hazardous driving conditions were reported across Metro Detroit as snow coated the roadways.  Multiple spin-out crashes were reported on both local freeways and surface streets as salt truck drivers worked to try to keep up with weather. WWJ’s Lance Howard reported that the light coating of powdery snow was just enough to cause problems.

Particular trouble areas included I-275, M-59 and Ford Road, where motorists sat in backups due to accidents early in the evening. 

- Check for the latest reported incidents -

Washburn said that because of the way this weather system is rolling in, the closer you are to Toledo, the more snow you’ll see. That means downriver and Monroe County will see the highest amounts. “Oakland and Macomb will be more in the 1-3 inch range,” Washburn said.

The snow will accumulate through around 1 or 2 a.m. , with areas further south of the Detroit also getting hit a bit harder. Forecasters say those near the Ohio border could see 6 inches.

Temperatures were expected to fall into the low teens overnight before warming up a bit with a little sunshine in the morning. On Saturday Metro Detroit will see partly cloudy skies (Hi 25/Lo 20).  Sunday it will warm up a bit more with a chance of rain (Hi 38/Lo 36).

Know before you go: Keep it tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 for traffic and weather, every 10 minutes on the 8s.  Check the CBS Detroit weather page for the extended forecast and up-to-the-minute information.