QUICK LINKS:
A winter storm system took aim at metro Detroit starting Wednesday afternoon. We'll have full coverage throughout the storm below.
Current Weather Conditions
Snow has stopped falling in metro Detroit after it started yesterday and continued overnight.
There are several cities that have reported snow totals. White Lake has 4.5", Ypsilanti has 3", Detroit has 4", Canton with 3" and Lapeer with 3.5". There were lower amounts to the south and east.
Winds are calm this morning but they'll pick up this afternoon and evening, and snow squalls will be possible.
Temps will bounce up to 28 degrees but winds will be between 15-25 mph in some areas.
Once we put the snow bands behind us this afternoon, it shifts the focus of the cold that moves in.
Overnight lows will be in the single digits but feels-like temperatures will be even colder. It will be brighter.
Another snow system is expected to hit metro Detroit this Saturday.
VIDEO: Check out the most recent forecast below:
Take it slow on the roads (a live look at morning commute conditions)
Here's a look at the road conditions just after 7 a.m. Thursday morning:
City of Detroit prepares
Deputy Director of Wayne County Public Services Scott Cabauatan joined us live on air late Wednesday night to talk about the conditions as crews cleared roads.
"Well, it is a mixed bag here tonight, so we've been working steadily since early this afternoon. We've been out there applying salt and now, we're in a plow operation throughout the county," Cabauatan said.
He said 100 plow operators were out Wednesday night, with 40 to 50 support personnel also working.
"It is all hands on deck in an event like this and we'll be working throughout the night into tomorrow morning until the roads get cleaned up and back to normal travel conditions," Cabauatan said.
Officials with the city of Detroit held a news conference Wednesday afternoon to talk about how they are preparing for both the storm and its aftermath.
Ron Brundidge, director of the Detroit Department of Public Works, says the city pretreated the major roads earlier in the day. He also says they will have 35 to 40 trucks out over a 24-hour period, with drivers working alternating 12-hour shifts.
Brundidge also says the city has notified the contractors they use when the city gets more than 6 inches of snow. They are on standby, and a final determination will be made on bringing them in tomorrow morning.
The department will be working 24 hours a day until the streets are cleared.
Macomb County road crews prepare
Crews in Macomb County treated dozens of snow routes Wednesday evening. In addition to plowing and blading, crews planned to use a soft brine mixture that is effective at melting snow 5 degrees below zero, which would be colder than what we're expecting.
"We have 57 snow routes in Macomb County, so it's going to be a challenge with that much snow," Macomb County maintenance supervisor Leo Ciavatta said.
Officials are planning to have 75 trucks out treating roads Thursday morning. They're asking drivers to give them space and take it slow.
"Our guys can work 16-hour shifts. They punched in at 7 o'clock this morning. We'll keep half the fleet here 'til midnight — that's 16 hours. Then we'll have the other shift come in from midnight to 3:30 tomorrow afternoon. But we'll have a full force after 7 a.m. tomorrow morning, which represents about 75 trucks," Ciavatta said.
Independent road crews 'out here in full force'
Independent road crews like EJM Enterprises prepared to work long shifts as they plow for businesses. The company spoke with us as they cleared snow in the parking lot of Kroger at Garfield and Canal roads in Clinton Township.
“Tonight is going to be a good 12 to 24 hours, maybe 16 to 24 hours minimum,” Erich Meixner said Wednesday night. "We got 16 acres here, so it's going to be a long, hard night."
Meixner says it will take them two to three days to get everything cleared since they won't be able to get where cars are parked right away.
“We have to be out here. We have to be out here in full force to keep the customers safe,” Meixner said.
Ravendale Lanscaping was also out in Macomb County.
"There's a lot of senior citizens that need help, people who can't handle this kind of heavy load. We're out here to save them," O'Neil Conley with Ravendale Lanscaping said.
We also visited stores in the area as people shopped for shovels and salt. Salt was hard to find Wednesday evening, metro Detroiters told us.
Will schools close?
As the snow moved in, school districts across metro Detroit had to decide whether to cancel classes. More than 580 closings were called by Wednesday night.
In Farmington, the superintendent told us she and other superintendents in Oakland County were meeting Wednesday morning to develop a game plan.
Related Video: School closures possible as snowstorm moves in Wednesday afternoon
“Oakland County has a process where the Oakland County superintendents come together whenever there’s a weather," Farmington Schools Superintendent Dr. Kelly Coffin said. "And we work with a meteorologist to try to get the most accurate information. I’m assuming our weather call is going to happen tomorrow morning. And, that will give us better information.”
Shoveling safety tips
As picturesque as the snow looks, shoveling it can significantly strain the heart, potentially leading to a heart attack in some people.
Related video: How to protect yourself while shoveling snow
While shoveling can be a good workout, it is not safe for everyone. Why is that? Well first of all, if you’re leading a sedentary life — sitting on the couch a lot and not doing much exercise — then digging, lifting and moving heavy snow can strain your cardiovascular system.
For safe shoveling, here is some advice:
- Warm up and stretch before you head outside. This will loosen joints and increase blood flow to the muscles.
- Try to push the snow instead of lifting. If lifting is necessary, use a small shovel and lift with your legs, not your back.
- Always take it easy, don't overdo it. Be sure to take breaks to avoid exhaustion.
- Watch for signs of heart trouble. Symptoms include chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, rapid heartbeat, irregular heart rhythms or a cold sweat.
If you experience any warning signs, stop immediately. If they don’t go away shortly after, call 911.
