Michigan snowfall turns to rain as temperatures warm up slightly
With temperatures a few degrees warmer than forecasters expected Tuesday, the first big snow of winter in southeast Michigan is expected to turn into rain and a then puddles of mostly freezing-cold water.
As the temperatures rise above freezing, the snowflakes will melt.
Saginaw and Midland, where more than 6 inches of snow had been expected, forecasters said that was no longer the case, and whatever snow had accumulated by early morning, a couple inches or so, likely would quickly melt away.
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In all, National Weather Service meteorologists said, expect about an inch or more of liquid, enough, in some areas, to cause some pooling and localized flooding. At the same time, they also warned there could be some strong wind gusts up to 30-40 mph, enough to down tree limbs and powerlines.
Consumers Energy said crews are ready Tuesday if the blustery winds led to outages. If there is wind damage, the power company said, most of it is expected along the Lake Michigan shore and in West Michigan, though other communities could be affected.
Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Snow expected to turn into rain, puddles with warmer Michigan temps
