Winter Storm Could Bring Snow, Ice, Sleet To Metro Detroit: Here's What To Know

METRO DETROIT — A powerful winter storm could bring snow, sleet and freezing rain to the metro Detroit area Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

A winter storm watch has been issued for Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Genesee, Livingston, Lapeer and St. Clair County counties from Wednesday afternoon through noon Thursday.

"Heavy mixed precipitation possible with total snow accumulations of up to two inches and ice accumulations of up to two tenths of an inch possible," the National Weather Service warned. "Winds could gust as high as 35 mph."

Wednesday will start with a round of light snow flurries before transitioning into rain and freezing rain across the metro Detroit area as temperatures hover around 30 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

Those south of Interstate 94 should mostly see just rain, while freezing rain and sleet with strong ice accumulations are possible between in the Interstate 94 and Interstate 69, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters warned the corridor could see ice accumulation rates between 0.1 and 0.2 inch per hour during the late afternoon and evening hours Wednesday.

Those north of Interstate 69 and farther toward the thumb region could see heavier snow with accumulations of more than 2 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters warned drivers across the metro Detroit region to plan on slippery conditions Wednesday afternoon through the Thursday morning commute.

They also warned that ice accumulations could damage trees and lead to power outages across the region. Travelers seeking flights out of Detroit Metro Airport could also see delays and cancellations, meteorologists warned.