Michiganders urged to be cautious as snow, freezing rain and ice threaten safety

The Michigan State Police is warning residents to be cautious during a mix of winter weather that could lead to dangerous driving conditions and power outages.

Schools across the state called off in advance Tuesday, as forecasts for the impending storm worsened. Residents in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula could see up to a foot of snow, with a coat of heavy ice across mid-Michigan.

“With potentially dangerous winter weather on the way, it is important to prepare and be ready ahead of time to keep yourself, your family, and your neighbors safe,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The storm is expecting to last Wednesday morning into early Thursday, with travel conditions deteriorating quickly and turning dangerous for the afternoon and evening commutes. Power outages are expected, as ice freezes power lines and winds gust over 40 miles per hour.

“We have enjoyed an unusually sunny February, but we are now reminded that it is still winter here in Michigan,” said Col. Joe Gasper, director of the MSP. “With this potentially dangerous storm hitting across the state, we advise all Michiganders to take precautions and avoid non-essential travel when possible.”

Tips include:

• Checking the weather before leaving for a destination

• Not crowding snowplows

• Keeping tires at the recommended pressure and routinely checking pressure

• Washing your vehicle for better visibility, removing snow and ice before driving

• Keeping an emergency kit in your vehicle with batteries, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, flashlight, windshield scraper, jumper cables, shovel, blankets, first aid kit, non-perishable food and bottled water.

For the latest forecasts, watches, warnings and advisories, visit the National Weather Service:

• National Weather Service — Gaylord — weather.gov/apx/

• National Weather Service — Grand Rapids — weather.gov/grr/

• National Weather Service — Northern Indiana — weather.gov/iwx/

• National Weather Service — Detroit — weather.gov/dtx/

— Contact editor Cassandra Lybrink at clybrink@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter @CassLybrink.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Michiganders urged to be cautious as snow, freezing rain and ice threaten safety