Gaylord, MI – Travel across eastern Upper Michigan will deteriorate quickly after 1 a.m. Wednesday as heavy snow and a light glaze of ice coat roads through the evening commute.
According to the National Weather Service in Gaylord, a Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 1 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday for Western, Central and Southeast Chippewa County, along with Mackinac County, including Mackinac Island and Bois Blanc Island. Snow totals between 5 and 9 inches are expected, with locally higher amounts possible. A light glaze of ice will add to the hazard, and wind gusts may reach 35 mph.
Wet snow combined with icing will make U.S. 2, I-75 near St. Ignace, and M-123 and M-134 slick and potentially treacherous. Strong winds could weigh down tree limbs and power lines, leading to sporadic outages across the eastern U.P.
The Wednesday morning and evening commutes face the highest impact window, with reduced visibility and rapidly changing road conditions.
Officials urge residents to delay travel if possible. If driving is unavoidable, slow down, leave extra space between vehicles and carry an emergency kit with food, water and a flashlight.
The warning remains in effect until 10 p.m. Wednesday, and additional advisories could be issued as conditions evolve.
