A rare winter ice storm is leaving thousands of Michiganders in the dark as heavy ice rips down tree limbs and power lines across the state.
As of Wednesday night 11:30pm, DTE's outage map shows over 314,533 customers are currently without power. While Consumers Energy's outage map shows over 180,870 customers reported power outages.
Altogether, over 495,403 customers throughout the state are experiencing power interruptions. High winds are expected to continue Thursday, potentially extending the significant power outages.
"DTE’s storm response team, including 1,500 lineworkers and hundreds of wire down guard teams, has been activated and is ready to respond to power outages caused by this storm," according to a news release. "DTE has also secured more than 400 out-of-state crews who have arrived in Michigan and are ready to assist with restoration efforts."
Consumers Energy has 85 crews in the field, attempting to restore power, according to the map.
An ice storm warning remains in effect until 4 a.m. Thursday for Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Livingston, St. Clair, Monroe, Lenawee, Allegan, Barry, Eaton, Ingham, Calhoun, Jackson, Van Buren and Kalamazoo county until 4 a.m. Thursday. Wayne County is under a winter weather advisory, according to the National Weather Service in White Lake.
It's a good idea, the weather watchers added, to pack an emergency kit in your car and charge up your electronic devices — just in case.
Michigan weather radar
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More:23 million Americans under winter storm warnings as blizzards barrel across Midwest, West
Ice accumulation and Thursday's forecast
According to the NWS White Lake office, as of 6 p.m. Wednesday, official ice accumulations are:
- Wayne County: 0.15 inches
- Washtenaw County: 0.2 inches
- Oakland County: 0.25 inches
Freezing rain will "move out late tonight," said NWS White Lake meteorologist Trent Frey. "For tomorrow, it's looking like things will still be pretty slick in the morning, but we'll eventually warm up into the 40s. ... around 2 or 3 p.m."
Winds will be gusting up to 40 mph in the late afternoon into the evening in the southeast Michigan area, he said.
'It looks pretty dicey'
Rain, ice, sleet, snow — "a little bit of everything," is expected Wednesday as winter storms are expected to sweep from the West to the East Coast, National Weather Service meteorologist Dave Gurney said. "It looks pretty dicey. Take it easy on the morning commute."
Midwest cities prepare
The cause of the warnings and advisories: a massive winter storm is barreling across the country with dangerous conditions landing farther east, and an ice storm slicing across several Midwestern states and snow and sleet reaching the Northeast.
Residents in Western states and the Plains have faced severe winter weather for several days already this week. Tuesday, in anticipation of the storm, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz issued an emergency order to activate the National Guard and urged residents to get ready for what could be a record snowstorm.
More:Ice can be deadly this time of year: What to do if you fall through
AAA ready for calls
The AAA auto club said it is bracing for winter weather conditions throughout the state of Michigan, and is expecting to receive a number of road service calls to pull vehicles out of ditches, jump dead batteries and inflate flat tires.
"We’re urging motorists to follow the advice of local authorities and stay home if you can," Adrienne Woodland, a spokesperson for AAA, said. "If you must get on the road, be sure to have at least a half tank of gas, significantly reduce your speed and stay off closed roads.”
What to do if stuck
If there is a problem on the road, the auto club urges motorists to:
- Stay in the vehicle. Your car can provide shelter, allowing emergency responders to best locate you.
- Don’t leave the car running. If there is an extended traffic jam, turn off the engine for a while, then back on.
- Keep the exhaust pipe snow-free.If blocked, deadly carbon monoxidecould back up into the car.
- Avoid driving on shoulders or medians of highways. They need to be kept clear for first responders.
- Cold weather can affect batteries. In electric vehicles, it can shorten the distance it can go.
Roadway safety
If you must be on the road, tips include:
- Check the weather before setting out, and be prepared to change plans if necessary.
- Drive at a safe speed. Keep in mind visibility and stopping ability may be diminished.
- Increasing following distances (normally three to four seconds) to eight to 10 seconds.
- Allow sufficient room for maintenance vehicles and plows, staying at least 200 feetback.
- Watch for icy surfaces on bridges and intersections, even if the rest of the road seems to be in good condition.
- Avoid braking on ice. If you’re approaching a patch of ice, brake during your approach.
Michigan traffic updates
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USA Today and Free Press writer Nour Rahal contributed to this report.
