Winter Is Back!

After a few days of showing hope for spring, mother nature is about to remind us that it is still Winter. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for all of west Michigan Thursday morning until 7 p.m. Friday night, with power outages expected.

The storm will start out with a mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow early Thursday morning, ice accumulations are expected to add up to a quarter of an inch.

The mix then turns into all rain Thursday afternoon, with wind gusts up to 50 mph heading into Thursday evening.

Expect snow squalls and winds anywhere from 25 to 45 mph.

Consumers Energy released a statement urging residents to prepare for possible power outages due to the ice and heavy wind.

Some important tips to help prepare for a storm include:

• Charge electronic devices such as cell phones and laptop and tablet computers, and have fresh batteries available for items such as flashlights and weather radios.

• Have a three-day supply of water and non-perishable food available, and don’t forget a first aid kit or any prescription medication if needed.  

• During and after a storm, people are advised to stay at least 25 feet from any downed lines and assume that every line is “live” and dangerous. Residents are also reminded to not touch anything a power line may be touching, including trees, fences, other debris and puddles.

• Report any downed wires by calling 9-1-1 or Consumers Energy at 1-800-477-5050.