Michigan is on the Edge of a Major Winter Storm – What to Know

This winter has been mild, but that could change very soon. A major winter storm is brewing for parts of the Northeast and East Coast. It looks to be a doozy. I've been loving the warm winter weather, so I'm not happy about this potential storm. But, the good news, Michigan friends, is that it appears we might just miss the worst of this storm. Let's dig a bit deeper, as Michigan is on the edge of a major winter storm for this weekend.

Right now, according to Weather.com, the upcoming storm appears to be on track to significantly impact Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.; and New York City. However, other areas are also on track to be part of the storm. This could actually be the biggest winter storm in those areas in two years. The storm would run from Saturday (Jan. 6) through Monday (Jan. 8) and hit pretty much everyone in the Northeast, New England and mid-Atlantic.

While it appears very probable that a significant storm is coming, it's too soon to predict exactly where it will fall and snowfall totals. Moreover, what could really change things is if temperatures are just a bit too warm for snow to either form or stick. It's possible that show falling overnight could melt by midday. It could also be a mix of rain and snow, as well as ice. Of course, ice is terrible for driving. So, this storm would still have significant impacts, even if the snow totals aren't super high.

Current projections from Weather.com have the most snow falling north and west of the I-95 corridor, with the corridor serving as a divider between rain and snow. So, if you're located north and west of the I-95 corridor, you're more likely to see snow. But, if you're south or east, you're looking at lighter snow or a mix or rain and snow.

As for Michigan, Detroit and Southeast Michigan appear to be on the very northern edge of this snow system. Radar shows the blue line indicating show tapering off as it gets north of Detroit, but the Sunday radar does show blue throughout the state. While we look to be in the clear, if the system moves north, even just a little, much of lower Michigan could be more severely impacted. There's also talk on Weather.com of snow early next week in the area, not attached to this story. Right now, it looks light, but we'll keep you posted all around.

Where did 2023 go? The year is almost over, and we're about to usher in a fresh start. As always, some new laws are going into effect at the start of the fresh year. This year, some of these laws are hot topics, including minimum wage and guns. Depending on your situation, these laws could really impact your life, so let's delve into these Michigan laws going into effect in 2024.

Actually, before we get into 2024, let's look at a refresher of what laws went into effect on Jan. 1, 2023. First of all, last year going into the current hear, there was a minimum wage increase. At the time, the minimum wage increase went from $9.87 an hour to $10.10 an hour. It's going up again this year, and you'll find more on that below. Also, another law that went into effect this year was automatic expungement of records. That started in April of 2023, and according to Michigan.gov, it's regarding an automated system for expunging convictions. So, now, residents who want to expunge their records don’t have to file an application. According to Michigan.gov, up to two felony convictions will be expunged the later of 10 years after sentencing or the person’s release from custody. Also, up to four misdemeanors will be expunged seven years after sentencing. Some conviction will not qualify for automatic expungement.

Now, that's the past. Let's get into the future. Here are the new laws going into effect in 2024 via Michigan.gov. Most of these laws will actually go into effect 90 days after the legislature ends, which is Feb. 13, 2024. However, the exception to that is the minimum wage increase, which goes into effect on Jan. 1. It's worth pointing out that there are more new laws going into effect this year than last year, at least at this point in the year. There are a ton, actually. So, you might want to keep this list handy throughout the year.

Beginning on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, the state of Michigan's minimum wage will increase from $10.10 to $10.33. This change is thanks to Michigan's Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act of 2018. That law resulted in an annual schedule of increases.

This year, Gov. Whitmer signed a bill restoring a prevailing wage act. This bill means that Michigan-hired contractors are required to pay their employees at the union level.

Now, 16-year-old high school students in Michigan are able to pre-register to vote. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says, "This new law helps us prepare the next generation of voters to inherit their democracy, bolstering our state’s commitment to engaging young people, educating them about the democratic process, and getting them ready to cast a ballot once they turn 18."

Michigan's right-to-work law is being repealed. The state's "right-to-work" law was passed over a decade ago. Michigan's "right-to-work" law had enabled workers in union settings to choose not to pay union dues and fees.

Earlier this year, Whitmer signed an expansion of the Elliot-Larsen Act. The act includes protection for those who are discriminated against due to sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. That's includes those in the LGBTQ+ community.

Michigan's third-grade reading law has been repealed. The original 2016 law made schools identify students who were struggling in reading and writing and hold them back a year if they were more than one grade level behind. Now, that requirement has lifted.

New gun laws are here, and these were introduced into Lansing following the tragic shooting at Michigan State University. The House and Senate passed these bills, and Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed them. The new laws require safe storage (gun owners must lock their weapons away, if a minor is expected to be in the home), background checks (mandatory, no matter how you're buying a firearm) and "red flag" (to cut down on possible violence for those who may have mental health problems or have threatened others).

Gov. Whitmer recently signed the Clean Energy & Climate Action Package, with a plan to have Michigan 100% clean energy by 2040. If all goes as planned, the state will produce 100% of its energy from clean sources by 2024.