Storm rings in new year
Snow buries area, takes out power
By NICOLE GERRING
Times Herald
Heavy snowfall marked the first hours of 2008 on Tuesday as a winter storm moved through the area, dumping more than one foot of snow in some locations.
The Blue Water Area was one of the regions hardest hit by heavy snowfall that began at midnight and continued steadily throughout the day Tuesday.
Oakland, Livingston and Lapeer counties also received between a foot and 15 inches of snow.
By late Tuesday, the National Weather Service in Detroit/Pontiac had declared the day one of the snowiest New Year's Days. It also was declared one of the most intense snowstorms in recorded history across southeast Michigan. The storm reached from Brighton in South Livingston County to Lexington.
The snow fell at a rate of 2 to 4 inches per hour throughout early Tuesday, according to the weather service. More than 12 inches of snow fell in less than seven hours between the M-59 and I-69 corridors. The amount of snow within a short time frame made the storm one of the area's most notable in history, according to the weather service.
As of Tuesday afternoon, 16 inches of snow was recorded in Capac, 13 inches in Yale, 13 in Imlay City, 12.3 in Lexington, 9 inches in Armada and 7½ in Marlette, according to the weather service.
The weather service in Oakland County's White Lake Township did not have snowfall data available Tuesday for Port Huron. A measurement taken outside the Times Herald building showed about 9 inches of snow.
The winter storm system lifted up from the Central Plains and moved through Detroit before hitting surrounding counties, said Steve Considine, meteorologist at the weather service.
Although it was expected to diminish, snow continued to fall throughout the day Tuesday as winds from the north brought lake-effect snow showers to St. Clair and Sanilac counties, said Randy Sharpe, another meteorologist at the weather service.
Several car accidents were reported, although only a few resulted in injuries. Many cars swerved off snowy roads and into a ditch or median. Other vehicles had trouble navigating rural routes and main highways and got stuck in the heavy, wet snow.
At about 3:50 p.m., police said a Ford pickup traveling north on Water Street slid across the center line and slammed into a minivan being driven by Ashley Collier, 17, of Port Huron. Also in the van were her brother, Andrew, 4, her boyfriend Ronnie Sullivan, 21, and his brother Cody, 9. Another vehicle then slammed the van from behind.
"The pickup was going too fast, and it came straight into our lane and came dead on into us, and as soon as we hit everyone else hit us," Collier recalled.
The driver of the pickup was issued a citation for speed too fast for conditions.
Police and meteorologists were advising drivers to stay home rather than risk the hazardous road conditions.
Although county road commissions and city crews took care of many streets, the continuous snowfall and high winds that caused blowing snow made driving dangerous.
Many roads nearly were impassable, said Sgt. Jerry Basset of the St. Clair County Sheriff Department.
Even those who stayed indoors found a few problems. A power outage affected about 750 customers in the north end of Port Huron. In all, more than 30,000 DTE Energy Co. customers were without power at some point Tuesday.
Despite the inconvenience to many area residents, those who love to ski and participate in winter activities were grateful for the abundant snowfall.
Joe Peters, 44, and his nephew, Tony Ayers, 24, both of Port Huron, took out their snowmobiles to enjoy the winter wonderland.
On Tuesday morning they were looking forward to spending a day zipping along snow-covered country roads between Clyde Township and Croswell.
"You don't get to go out in the snow and play like you used to in Port Huron," Peters said, recalling the harsher winters of his childhood.
Matthew Sharrow and his two sons also were happy to wake up to a snowy front yard.
Jeremiah, 4, and Matthew, 6, spent a few hours Tuesday morning building an igloo with shovels and spoons.
"It's the first day of good packing snow, so they're having fun," he said.
Kim Bower and her daughter Aleesha Carrier, 14, both of Port Huron, hoped to turn a profit shoveling snow for their neighbors.
Dressed head to toe in snowsuits, hats and other warm winter clothes, the pair were walking along 10th Street offering their services.
Bower said the family could use extra cash.
"Christmas was hard, and it's the New Year," she said. She wanted to buy a phone card, and her daughter wanted to earn enough money to pay for developing her photos.
This isn't the first strong storm to hit the area on New Year's Day.
On Jan. 1, 1985, an ice storm hit southern portions of lower Michigan, resulting in significant ice accumulations that caused many power outages. The loss of power lasted for as long as a week in some areas.
There's a chance of light snow showers today.
m Reporter Bobby Ampezzan contributed to this report. Contact Nicole Gerring at (810) 989-6270 or ngerring@gannett.com
