Stay alerts and be safe starting now until Sunday morning if you are traveling anywhere in the Mid-Michigan area. The National Weather Service has issued an Ice Storm Warning & Flood Watch with the potential for up to .75″ of ice by Sunday morning in the Genesee County area.
WHAT…Significant icing expected. Freezing rain likely
resulting in ice accumulations around one quarter to three
quarters of an inch. Sleet and snow may mix in at times, mainly
north of I-69, but just light accumulations if at all. Winds
could gust as high as 40 mph, which may further increase briefly
Sunday morning.
* WHERE…Shiawassee, Genesee, Lapeer, and Sanilac Counties.
* WHEN…From 4 AM Saturday to 7 AM EST Sunday.
* IMPACTS…Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the
ice and strong winds. Travel could become nearly impossible.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Temperatures are expected to fall below
freezing later this morning or early this afternoon, changing
liquid rain to freezing rain which will persist through most of
the day. Sleet may mix in late this afternoon into this evening.
The Flood Watch continues for
* A portion of southeast Michigan, including the following areas,
Genesee, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland,
Shiawassee, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne.
* Through late tonight
* Multiple rounds of moderate to heavy rain are expected today
through tonight. Total rain amounts in the 2 to 3 inch range are
likely with some locations exceeding 3 inches by the time
precipitation ends late tonight, especially where any
thunderstorms occur. Over an inch of rain has already fallen this
morning over northwestern portions of the watch area. While most
of the precipitation will fall as rain, a transition to freezing
rain or sleet is likely along and north of M-59 as the day goes
on.
* Flooding of low-lying areas and along small creeks and streams
is likely. Overland and urban flooding may result in road
closures. Moderate to major river flooding may develop later
this weekend into early next week.
*Information, data, and images courtesy of the US National Weather Service
