(WWJ) – A “bomb cyclone” that is still threatening the area has prompted the addition of three counties in Metro Detroit to the Winter Storm Watch.
A little portion of Southeast Michigan was not under a watch or warning until Thursday afternoon, despite the fact that almost the whole state had been placed under a Winter Storm Watch since Wednesday.
Oakland, St. Clair, and Washtenaw Counties are under a Winter Storm Watch, which is in force from 10 a.m. on Friday until 3 p.m. on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. Only Macomb, Wayne, Monroe, and Lenawee Counties were not under a watch, warning, or advisory as of 4 p.m. on Thursday.
According to the NWS, Oakland, Washtenaw, and St. Clair Counties could see significant snowfall, with accumulations of four to seven inches and wind gusts above fifty miles per hour. The NWS predicts that snowfall rates might peak at about one inch per hour before turning into rain by the evening.
It is advised by authorities to “plan on slippery road conditions,” which may affect the Friday night commute.
The NWS warned that blowing snow could occasionally cause visibility to drop to less than a mile and that “gusty winds may bring down snow-covered tree branches, resulting in scattered power outages.”
The regions from Flint to Bad Axe, located further north of the Metro Detroit area, are predicted by the NWS to receive the most snowfall—4–8 inches.
The NWS reports that “uncertainty exists regarding the northward progress of the rain/snow line Friday afternoon and evening, which greatly impacts total snow amounts” as the area prepares for the first significant snowstorm of the season.
Although the NWS is certain that Friday’s snow will eventually turn to rain, the exact moment is still “highly variable.”
As the weekend goes on, icy roads are predicted due to the high temperatures that are predicted to reach the mid-to upper-30s, and “very strong winds are expected late Friday night into Saturday with gusts of more than 50 mph as arctic air filters in behind the system sending wind chill values close to zero.”
In most counties, particularly in Northern and West Michigan, Winter Storm Watches have been raised to Warnings in other parts of the state.
Forecasters are calling for as many as 8-14 inches of snow between Friday morning and 7 p.m. Saturday in sections of central, south-central, southwest, and west-central Michigan.