Fast-Falling Snow Causes Mess On Roads, 200 Flight Cancellations In Metro Detroit
DETROIT (WWJ) - Metro Detroit roadway conditions are slowly improving, but remain snow-covered and icy Friday night as a winter storm begins to taper off early in the evening.
The winter storm that blew into the region overnight Thursday into Friday dumped as many as 10 inches of snow across the area.
Local roadways are slick and multiple accidents were reported throughout the day, causing numerous road and lane closures, leading to long delays and treacherous driving conditions.
In the southwestern part of the state: Friday afternoon, 9 inches had fallen in Berrien County's Bridgman along Lake Michigan. Nearby St. Joseph County has reported about 6-7 inches.
At Detroit Metro Airport, about 200 flights are either canceled or delayed.
"From what I can tell, it appears that we have more cancellations than delays, and I believe that's a result of the airlines being proactive and cancelling flights in advance of the storm hitting Detroit," said airport spokesperson Erica Donerson. Many of the affected flights are to Chicago and the east coast.
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A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect midnight Friday for Washtenaw, Wayne, Lenawee and Monroe counties. A Winter Weather Advisory is effect until midnight for Livingston, Oakland and Macomb counties.
WWJ AccuWeather Meteorologist Dean Devore said the heaviest snowfall was coming down in the afternoon. At 12 p.m., the snow was falling at a rate of an inch or more an hour.
Drivers should continue to be prepared for snow-covered roads and limited visibilities, and use caution while driving throughout the night.
WWJ AccuWeather Meteorologist Dave Bowers said while snow will let up for a brief period, we can expect up to an additional inch Friday night into Saturday morning.
The snow might let up after Friday, but it's not stopping completely. Forecasters say we'll see snow showers all weekend, with an additional couple of inches of accumulation expected.
Here's a look at the forecast from the CBS Detroit weather team:
Friday -- Snow showers. High 27F. Low 21F.
Saturday -- Snow during the morning will give way to lingernig snow showers during the afternoon. High 26F. Low 22F.
Sunday -- Snow likely. High 28F. Low 11F.
Monday -- Mainly sunny. High 24F. Low 11F.
Tuesday -- Times of sun and clouds. High 29F. Low 24F.
Don't get caught in the storm: Keep it tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 for the latest forecast during traffic and weather, every 10 minutes on the 8s. See the live, local radar now at this link.
