Winter storm could deliver blizzard conditions ahead of holiday

A winter storm that is expected to create difficult and treacherous travel conditions is expected to begin affecting lower Michigan starting Thursday night and forecasters expect holiday travel plans will be impacted.

According to National Weather Service Meteorologist Alex Manion, the expected storm is a low-pressure system coming through the northern plains, developing over the Ohio Valley and moving to the Great Lakes quickly.

The storm is expected to bring strong winds, starting with rain Thursday but turning to snow.

The weather service on Wednesday morning was projecting 2 inches of snow for Livingston County Thursday night and another 3 inches on Friday, with winds gusting to 46 miles per hour, creating likely blizzard conditions through the day Friday.

The county Wednesday morning was under a winter storm watch beginning Thursday evening and continuing through Saturday. The Livingston County Emergency Management Office was predicting Friday would be the worst day for travel.

Roads could rapidly freeze Thursday evening, Manion said, adding, "Friday is going to be extremely difficult travel day," Manion said.

Regardless of the amount of snow, there's potential for whiteout conditions, he said.

"The main thing to stress here is we have high confidence that it's going to be a high wind event," he said.

Widespread blowing snow is predicted for Christmas Eve as windy conditions are expected to continue.

Snowfall is expected to be higher to the west. The weather service's Grand Rapids office is predicting snow accumulations of 8 to 17 inches in south-central Michigan and up to two feet in areas closer to Lake Michigan.

Prior to the storm developing, AAA estimated that 3.5 million Michiganders will travel 50 miles or more for the holiday season from Dec. 23 to Jan. 2.

Compared to last year, AAA said that 110,000 more people were expected to travel.

“Despite inflationary pressures, consumers remain resilient and dedicated to travel this year, and the holidays will be no different,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group in a press release. “Americans are spending more on travel than any other time in the past two years. The good news is the cost for a holiday road trip will be less expensive than anticipated, now that gas prices are on the way down.”

AAA travel tips for drivers

“Whether it’s a tow truck or a disabled vehicle, when you see flashing lights please move over,” said Adrienne Woodland, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “We want to make sure all holiday travelers, tow truck drivers and first responders make it home safely for the holidays.”

• Leave early so you are not in a rush.

• Watch the weather. Consider alternate routes or adjust your departure time to avoid driving through bad weather.

• Never drive distracted. Pre-program your GPS and put your cell phone down while driving.

• Wear your seat belt and never drive impaired.

• Get a full vehicle inspection before hitting the road.

• Keep an emergency kit in your car with ice scraper, snow brush, first-aid kit, portable charger, flashlight, water and snacks.

AAA travel tips for flyers

“If you plan on flying this time of year, travel insurance can be extremely valuable for air travelers,” Haas said. “There are policies that can provide compensation for flight delays for as little as three hours. And if your flight is cancelled, passengers can receive compensation for covered out-of-pocket expenses.”

• Check-in early online.

• Monitor your flight status using your air carrier’s mobile app.

• Arrive 2-3 hours before scheduled departure.

• Pack medications and an extra set of clothes in your carry-on bag, just in case your flight is delayed or cancelled.

If you have not booked your flight:

• Book a flight that leaves early in the day. Flights in the afternoon and evening are more susceptible to delays and cancellations.

• Book a direct flight. Otherwise, build in extra time between connections, in case your first flight is delayed.

• Consider traveling on Christmas Day. This could offer the best combination of availability and price.

The average gas price in Michigan as of Tuesday is $3.02, which is down almost 80 cents from where it was a month ago. The average gas price in Livingston County is $3.08.

Busiest corridors and best/worst times to travel

The busiest expected road in the Detroit area is Interstate 94 West from Gratiot Avenue to Michigan Avenue, specifically from noon to 2 p.m. on Jan. 2.

Drivers should prepare for delays, particularly in and around metro areas. Nationwide, drivers could see travel times increase by 25%, according to INRIX, a provider of transportation analytics and insights. The most congested days on the road are expected to be this Friday, Dec. 27-28 and on Monday, Jan. 2.

With increased traffic expected, AAA Michigan also suggested the best times to travel by car; however due to the effects of the winter storm, these times have changed.

• Before 2 p.m., after 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 23. Travel conditions are expected to be difficult and hazardous.

• Before 11 a.m., after 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 24

• Before 12 p.m., after 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 26

• Before 2 p.m., after 8 p.m. on Dec. 27-30

• Before 3 p.m., after 8 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 2

INRIX predicts the single busiest travel day will be Tuesday, Dec. 27. The best advice for avoiding congestion is to leave early in the morning or later in the evening.

Livingston Daily reporter Patricia Alvord can be reached at palvord@livingstondaily.com.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Winter storm could deliver blizzard conditions ahead of holiday