Lifestyle Trend: Michigan Issues Winter Travel Advisory for 17 Counties Amid Dangerous Ice and Snow You Should Know

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Friday (Dec. 26) covering 17 Michigan counties—Midland, Bay, Huron, Saginaw, Tuscola, Sanilac, Shiawassee, Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Livingston, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Wayne, Lenawee and Monroe—valid 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST.

Forecasters say the primary hazard will be freezing rain, with the potential for a brief wintry mix as temperatures hover near the freezing mark.

In the advisory text, the weather service warns that “Freezing rain [is] expected… Total ice accumulations of one to two tenths of an inch” with locally higher totals possible, and up to about an inch of snow/sleet in spots.

Local forecast guidance from the NWS Detroit/Pontiac office underscores the geographic breadth of the event, noting “widespread freezing rain and wintry mix” with ice accumulations between 0.10 and 0.20 inch favored, plus a snow/sleet mix risk in the northern Thumb.

What residents should expect and why small ice totals can be a big problem

Ice accretion of one to two tenths of an inch may not sound dramatic, but it is often enough to glaze untreated roads, bridges, ramps, and sidewalks, sharply increasing crash and fall risk—especially during early-day departures when pavement temperatures can lag behind air temperatures.

TV meteorologists in Metro Detroit are emphasizing the same core risk: slick conditions during the morning commute and post-holiday travel window, when traffic volumes frequently rise.

While confidence is high that freezing rain will occur somewhere within the advisory footprint, exact ice totals can still vary over short distances. That variability often comes down to subtle temperature differences in the lowest few thousand feet of the atmosphere, which can change precipitation type from rain to freezing rain (or to sleet) even within the same county. NWS discussion products highlight this as the key forecast challenge, with ice amounts most likely clustering in the 0.10–0.20 inch range

Power impacts are possible if icing concentrates on tree limbs and elevated surfaces, though the most widespread concern in Southeast Michigan remains hazardous travel rather than severe wind-driven damage. Regional coverage describing a broader, post-Christmas icing setup also notes the potential for scattered power issues where ice loads build more efficiently.

Safety and preparedness: practical steps for drivers and pedestrians

The NWS advisory language is blunt about timing and consequence: “Plan on slippery road conditions,” cautioning that hazardous conditions may affect the Friday morning commute and holiday travel and advising drivers to slow down and use caution.

Transportation safety data reinforces why officials focus so heavily on speed management and visibility. The Federal Highway Administration reports that thousands of fatal crashes and hundreds of thousands of injury crashes occur annually in adverse weather conditions, underscoring the disproportionate risk during events involving ice and winter precipitation.

For those who must travel, state and federal safety agencies consistently recommend a short list of high-impact measures:

• Drive slower than normal and increase following distance, especially on overpasses and ramps that ice first.
• Avoid abrupt steering or hard braking; make gradual inputs to preserve traction.
• Prepare the vehicle with basics such as an ice scraper, flashlight, blanket, water, and a charged phone; NHTSA also advises ensuring tires, battery condition, and visibility systems are winter-ready.
• Give snowplows space and pass only when conditions and sightlines are clearly safe.
• For pedestrians, the NWS specifically advises extra caution on stairs, sidewalks, and driveways, where a thin glaze can be nearly invisible.

What to watch next

The advisory runs through 4 p.m. Friday, but impacts can linger if temperatures remain near or below freezing after precipitation tapers—allowing refreezing on untreated surfaces. Residents should monitor updated NWS statements and local road conditions before departing, particularly if travel plans include the Tri-Cities, the Thumb, or the Metro Detroit cor