As dawn broke on Thursday, January 15, 2026, Southeast Michigan awoke to a landscape transformed by a relentless winter storm, prompting the closure of more than 400 schools across the region. The wintry mix, which began sweeping through the area on Wednesday afternoon, quickly escalated into a formidable weather event, blanketing communities from Livingston and Macomb to Washtenaw and Wayne counties—including Detroit itself—in a thick layer of snow and ice.
The National Weather Service (NWS) had issued a Winter Weather Advisory, warning residents to brace for hazardous conditions until at least 10 a.m. Thursday. According to the NWS, a “highly localized band of snow” had settled over parts of Livingston, Oakland, and Macomb counties on Wednesday, before drifting southeast through Metro Detroit. By late evening, the deepest snow was recorded in the Wixom area of Oakland County, where six inches had accumulated. Other notable totals included five inches in Milford, 4.2 inches in Ann Arbor, and four inches in Romulus, as reported by The Detroit News.
For many, the storm’s impact was felt most acutely on the roads. Between 2 and 9 p.m. Wednesday, the Michigan Department of Transportation reported at least 18 crashes on Metro Detroit highways, several of which backed up traffic for miles. The Road Commission for Oakland County described the roads as “snow-covered and icy,” and deployed crews to salt the most heavily traveled routes. Motorists were urged to exercise extreme caution, especially on bridges, overpasses, and ramps. Michigan State Police, posting updates on X (formerly Twitter), noted, “They are single vehicle spin outs, hitting the guard rail or ending up in the ditch. All preventable if the drivers would have slowed down.”
The perilous conditions were not without tragedy. In Washtenaw County, a crash on U.S.-12 at Lima Center Road in Bridgewater Township resulted in a fatality and forced the roadway’s closure for several hours. While it was not immediately clear if the weather was a direct factor, the timing and conditions suggested a strong likelihood, according to Michigan State Police.
Public transportation and air travel were also disrupted. The Federal Aviation Administration ordered a ground delay at Detroit Metro Airport on Wednesday evening due to snow and ice, resulting in average flight delays of 48 minutes and some waiting as long as 111 minutes before departure, as detailed by The Detroit News.
As the storm’s effects rippled outward, school districts across Southeast Michigan began announcing closures. The list was staggering in its breadth, encompassing large public districts, charter schools, private academies, and early childhood centers. Major districts such as Detroit Public Schools, Ann Arbor Public Schools, Grosse Pointe Public Schools, and Utica Community Schools all shuttered their doors for Thursday. According to Fox2 Detroit, the closures extended to hundreds of institutions, from elementary schools to high schools and even universities like Oakland University, which canceled all evening classes and closed its library.
Parents, students, and staff were advised to check school communications for up-to-date information, as the situation remained fluid. The storm’s reach was not limited to Michigan; Middle Tennessee also saw school closures and delayed starts due to frigid temperatures, though the brunt of the snowfall and hazardous road conditions were concentrated in Michigan’s southeast corridor.
Communities outside Metro Detroit were not spared. In the Thumb region, parts of Huron and Sanilac counties braced for up to six inches of lake-effect snow and wind gusts reaching 40 mph, the NWS reported. Along the Lake Michigan shoreline, areas like Mason, Oceana, Muskegon, Allegan, and Van Buren counties faced the prospect of up to eight inches of accumulation and gusting winds. Northern Lower Michigan and the Upper Peninsula also received fresh snow, though totals were generally lower—up to three inches in Presque Isle and Alpena counties, and up to two inches near Lake Superior.
Despite the widespread disruptions, the region’s power grid remained remarkably resilient. DTE Energy and Consumers Energy reported that 99.9% of customers in Southeast Michigan retained power as of Wednesday night, offering a rare bright spot in an otherwise challenging situation.
The winter storm also brought a sharp drop in temperatures. Wind chills were expected to fall below zero in some areas, prompting the city of Detroit to activate a temporary shelter at 13130 Woodward Ave. The shelter opened at 5 p.m. Wednesday and was set to remain operational through noon Tuesday, January 20, providing a crucial lifeline for vulnerable residents. Detroit officials encouraged those in immediate need to call the Detroit Housing Resource HelpLine, available 24/7, for assistance.
For many families, the sudden closures posed logistical challenges. Working parents scrambled to find child care, while school administrators worked to ensure that students—especially those who rely on school meals—would not be left without support. The closures also disrupted extracurricular activities, after-school programs, and sporting events, with several districts explicitly canceling all activities for the duration of the storm.
Looking ahead, forecasters warned that the reprieve would be brief. The NWS predicted a slight chance of additional snow before 10 a.m. Thursday, followed by a 90% chance of snow in Detroit on Friday, with up to an inch of new accumulation. “Plan on slippery road conditions,” the NWS advisory cautioned, underscoring the likelihood of continued travel headaches.
Law enforcement and emergency officials continued to urge caution, reminding drivers to slow down and allow extra time for travel. The Michigan Department of Transportation and local road commissions maintained a steady presence on the highways, working to clear snow and treat icy surfaces as quickly as possible.
While the snowstorm’s full impact will take days to assess, its immediate effects—closed schools, treacherous roads, delayed flights, and frigid shelters—served as a vivid reminder of winter’s unpredictable power in the Midwest. For Southeast Michigan, the storm was both a test of resilience and a call for community solidarity as residents banded together to weather yet another blast from Old Man Winter.
As the snow settles and the region braces for the next round of wintry weather, Southeast Michigan’s schools, families, and first responders remain on high alert, determined to keep safety at the forefront while navigating the challenges of a true Michigan winter.
