UNDATED (WKZO AM/FM) — Forecasters say it will be the snowiest day yet during what has already been a fairly extreme winter season. The snow began falling early this morning and it’s expected to just get worse as the day progresses, if they are right.
They say some areas along the southern border could see up to a foot of fresh snow before it ends later today. Kalamazoo is projected to wind up with eight to ten inches of fresh snow by Friday evening with more snow expected to fall this weekend.
This first batch of snow is not the light fluffy lake effect snow, but a wet and heavy snow from a traditional snow storm that raced across the plain states yesterday, shutting down Chicago and crossing Lake Michigan overnight.
MDOT operates 85 plows in South west Michigan and have begun 12 hours shifts to try and keep up with the snow on state trunk lines and highways in southwest Michigan.
County and city crews will also be putting in a lot of overtime but it may take them a day or two more to get to all the streets, focusing on primary roads and bus routes first.
Van Buren County as already seen more snow this winter than almost any other, and Road Commission Manager Larry Hummel says they will get the job done sooner with patience and cooperation from drivers.
The worst of the storm is expected to follow the Indiana Toll Road across the Hoosier state. Anyone traveling south may want to reconsider.
Albion, Marshall, Sturgis, Bronson, Quincy, and Portage have all declared “snow emergencies” requiring drivers to park in driveways and off the streets to facilitate plowing operations. Violators could be ticketed or in extreme cases towed in some communities where it’s an ordinance.
Flights out of Chicago to west Michigan airports began cancelling Thursday night and that may mean some disruption in travel schedules today. You might do well to call ahead before leaving for the terminal as the snow storm heads across Michigan, and more flights could be cancelled or delayed today.
The forecast has closed most schools in the area for today. Even Kalamazoo College, Kellogg Community College and Kalamazoo Valley Community College have announced that they are suspending classes for the safety of their staff and students. Most made the decision Thursday night.
