Slow, treacherous travel conditions continue into Tuesday across Michigan

Treacherous travel conditions — including blowing snow leading to low visibility and whiteout conditions — are expected to continue through Tuesday as all of Michigan remains in the grip of this icy blast.

The bitter cold has created slick roads across the state and the snow effect falling is less due to the intense cold. This makes it easier to blow around, creating dangerous driving conditions, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Temperatures close to zero and cold below zero are also still dangerous. Wind chills down to 25 below zero are expected into Wednesday. The time for frostbite on exposed skin is 30 minutes or less. Stay inside if you can and be sure to bring pets indoors. Animal rescue groups in Michigan have already reported responding to find dead pets or animals in need.

“Very cold temperatures and lake effect snow will continue to result in slow and treacherous travel through Tuesday evening,” NWS meteorologists in Grand Rapids said. “While not particularly heavy, the snow will greatly reduce visibility and slowly increase, with the highest additional amounts generally near and west of Highway 131.”

To check highway conditions before leaving home, click into the state’s MiDrive website. It shows you traffic reduction areas in real time, as well as all reported accidents and where state-contracted snowplows are working.

On Monday, there was a lot of slow-moving red on the map as slide-offs and pileups were reported from West Michigan to Lansing to Flint. Tonight, a line of snow flurries was reported near Lansing that extends all the way into Livingston County.

An NWS employee in Grand Rapids shared this first-person account from earlier today: “Take it from someone who drove to work: 5 vehicles in the ditch in a 3-mile stretch of M-6 near Grand Rapids is just one of several trouble spots . Even if you see the pavement, you may have very little braking power. 45 mph may not be a safe speed. Remember your hat and gloves.”

New snow expected between tonight and Wednesday could total up to 8 inches along the Ottawa County/Kent County border. Three to 4 inches in forecast for Ludington, Muskegon and Kalamazoo. The Grand Rapids area could see 4 to 6 inches.

Southeast Michigan is expected to receive less than an inch of new snow Tuesday night.