Ice storm hits Michigan, leaving 50 000 customers without power
An ice storm swept through parts of Michigan late Tuesday, February 5 into Wednesday, February 6, 2019, leaving nearly 50 000 Consumers Energy customers without power.
The worst affected is Kent County with more than 25 000 outages, followed by Muskegon County with over 7 000, Ottawa County with nearly 3 000 and Ionia County with 2 300.
I've heard this a few times last night while at work. As of 5am nearly 37K @ConsumersEnergy customers without power. Most within GR. Rapids & nearby suburbs. Just 0.25" of ice on power line can add 300-500lbs! #wmiwx #miwx #donttouchdownedlines pic.twitter.com/n8yaLxzw2A
— Matthew Kirkwood (@matthewkirkwood) February 6, 2019
The National Weather Service office in Detroit warned Tuesday that freezing rain and sleet are likely with icing of 6.3 mm (0.25 inches) possible from midnight through midday Wednesday. Travel early Wednesday morning will become hazardous due to slick roads and ice accumulation. Wednesday morning commute is expected to be especially impacted, it said.
A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect overnight through late Wednesday morning for widespread freezing rain and some sleet, the office reminded 08:31 UTC (03:31 local time). Ice accumulations between 2 and 5 mm (1/10 and 2/10 of an inch) expected for all of southeastern Michigan, with localized higher amounts possible.
Storm system to bring a plethora of impacts to the central, southern and northeastern U.S. into Thursday
A developing storm system will bring heavy snow, ice, strong winds, and dangerous travel conditions from the upper Midwest to the Lower Great Lakes and into the Northeast U.S. into Thursday, February 7, NWS warns.
On the warmer side of the storm, the potential exists for heavy rainfall, isolated severe thunderstorms, and flooding from the southern states north to the Ohio Valley. Hazardous travel is expected.
Featured image credit: Matthew Kirkwood
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