COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The most frigid morning of winter so far in Branch County with a low of 6 degrees with a minus-11 wind chill and light snow following a day when it reached 45 degrees with rain on Saturday and Sunday added up to very slick icy conditions on secondary and rural roads early today. Those elements prompted schools across the county to cancel classes for today and brought other cancellations as well. And there may be more to come.
A winter storm watch is in effect from 7 p.m. Monday until 7 p.m. Tuesday with 3 to 7 inches of snow possible. Winds are expected to increase late tonight to between 20 and 30 mph and continue into Tuesday, creating blowing and drifting with reduced visibilities and near whiteout conditions can’t be ruled out within heavier snow bands.
Primary roads in Branch County are in good shape today with scattered slippery spots and the snow not expected to re-develop until early this evening. Yesterday, there were at least a dozen property damage traffic accidents or slide offs called into 9-1-1 Central Disptach, mostly during the afternoon. There were no news releases from local police agencies reporting any injury crashes in the county.


