Winter Storm Headed Our Way

DETROIT (WWJ) - A winter storm watch will be in effect from Tuesday afternoon through late Tuesday night -- with up to 6 inches of snow possible in Southeast Michigan.

CBS 62 Chief Meteorologist Jim Madaus says the storm will probably hit metro Detroit at around afternoon drive time Tuesday. "It could start as rain and then change to snow -- and it's going to keep snowing, up to an inch-an-hour at times," Madaus said.

Madaus said the worst of it is expected to hit while most of us are sleeping -- and the snowfall should wrap up in the early morning hours Wednesday, giving plows and salt trucks time to clear the way.

But still, "It will be a wet, heavy snow ... the morning drive could be a little messy," Madaus said.

According to the National Weather Service, there is the potential for six or more inches of snow during that time. Rapidly-accumulating snow and poor visibility may lead to hazardous travel conditions. To make matters worse, heavy, wet snow may put stress on trees and power lines causing power outages.

AccuWeather is anticipating that the metro Detroit area will see accumulations of 3-6 inches of snow in and around the city and northern and western suburbs by the time it's all done. Areas south of the city may see 1-3 inches of snow, and more rain may mix in.

On Monday, residents were bracing for that storm system in the Central Plains. Crews in Kansas City were trying to clean up the remaining mess from a big snow storm last week to prepare for the storm expected to hit there Monday night.

The storm is expected to pound the country's midsection with 8-10 inches of snow by Tuesday morning, but forecasters say it's likely to weaken by the time it reaches our area.

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.

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