Metro Detroit likely to dodge worst as snowstorm begins to pummel Michigan

As Michigan’s biggest storm of the season begins its reign, people all over the state are already feeling its impact.

Whiteout conditions and strong winds bringing hazardous roads and plenty of power outages in parts of the state are the biggest concerns — even metro Detroit, which will miss the brunt of the storm, can’t avoid the damage.

Currently, over 2,500 DTE customers and 104 Consumer Energy customers across the state are without power, but that number is expected to climb throughout the night as high winds with gusts near 50 mph pummel the state.

Additionally, the storm has led to thousands of flights being canceled nationwide, 44 of which were canceled coming in and 40 more coming out of Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW). On the other side of the state, 37 flights have been canceled coming into and 34 coming out of Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids.

Here's a quick overview of what the weather will look like in different parts of the state.

Southeast Michigan

On the warmer side of the system, southeast Michigan is only under a winter weather advisory, according to the Detroit/Pontiac National Weather Service.

Snow flurries and freezing rain hit metro Detroit before 2:30 p.m., bringing strong winds with them. All snowfall is expected to turn into a cold drizzle by the evening, but after temperatures drop overnight, beware slick roads where Friday night's rain turns into Saturday morning's ice.

Areas downriver are only supposed to get about an inch of snow, but as you go north or west, you can expect up to four inches throughout the rest of southeast Michigan.

Combined with strong gusts of wind up to 50 mph, southeast Michigan can expect huge power outages through Saturday, much to the dismay of metro Detroiters.

Just after the storm reached this side of the state, the harsh winds already began to do damage by downing a tree on top of a car in an Oak Park neighborhood.

In light of the severe weather, SMART will be modifying its bus routes to navigate the weather conditions while protecting its riders and operators. Riders can anticipate possible delays starting Friday afternoon through the weekend.

Bad weather broken down by city: Michigan snowfall predictions: How much your area could get

In Westland, Mayor Kevin Coleman is opening warming centers and charging stations in case of power outages. The city also asks residents to call 911 or contact the non-emergency police line at (734) 722-9600 if they know or see someone out in the cold so that police and emergency services can take them somewhere warm.

The city of Detroit is also offering warming centers and other respite locations at Cass Community Social Services, Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries and Joseph Walker Williams Recreation Center, as well as several Detroit Public Library branches and recreation centers. These respite locations are open during regular operating hours but are closed on Martin Luther King Day on Monday, Jan. 15, and set to reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 16.

Central and West Michigan

On the other hand, the rest of the mitten is under a winter storm warning; apart from strong wind gusts up to 50 mph, central Michigan is set to receive 6-11 inches of snow and west Michigan could receive between 8-13 inches of snow.

On the west side of the state, snow began falling in downtown Grand Rapids around 1 p.m. Friday afternoon. According to the National Weather Service, heavy snow is expected to blanket the greater Grand Rapids area through Saturday with the heaviest snowfall expected between 4 p.m. and midnight. Snow showers are forecasted to go through at least Monday in Grand Rapids.

In addition to the first heavy snowfall of the season, heavy winds blowing snow could cause low visibility conditions on roads. A Kent County Sheriff’s Office bulletin advised drivers to limit travel plans in the area during the storm.

If you must travel, the National Weather Service recommends keeping an extra flashlight, food, and water in your car in case of an emergency.

The west side of Michigan typically sees greater snowfall totals than the metro Detroit area mostly thanks to lake effect snow caused by Lake Michigan.

Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula

Northern Michigan and the U.P. are also under a winter storm warning dipping into blizzard weather, with snow accumulations of 7-15 inches and wind gusts of 40 mph. The most snowfall can be expected in Menominee County and areas at higher elevations, from Ironwood to the Porcupine Mountains.

However, the northern Lower Peninsula and the eastern U.P. are expected to be enveloped in blizzard conditions, with at least 10-15 inches of snow — up to 18 inches in some areas — and wind gusts around 50 mph, closer to 60 mph near the Lake Huron shoreline. These conditions are expected to persist into Saturday evening.

As defined by the National Weather Service, a snowstorm is considered a blizzard when it blows large amounts of snow at wind speeds over 35 mph, cutting visibility down to less than a fourth of a mile and producing an extreme wind chill, for at least three hours. In a storm like northern Michigan's blizzard, the wind chill is expected to bring their not-too-bad temperatures from the upper 20s down to the teens or even a whopping single digit degree.

The National Weather Service in Gaylord says that travel in this region will be nearly impossible and should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, be sure to bring a winter survival kit with you.

Reporter Arpan Lobo contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Winter storm pummels Michigan: What's happening across state