weather

Mid-Michigan is bracing for what could be a historic winter storm this weekend.

The National Weather Service says the Lansing area could see as much as three inches of snow and sleet, and one-quarter to three-quarters of an inch of ice during the storm.

“We’re expecting our heaviest ice accumulation very late tonight through Saturday morning, and then again with a second round Saturday evening into the overnight hours,” says National Weather Service meteorologist Heather Orow. 

Crews are working to restore power after heavy storms over two days knocked out power for over 800,000 Michigan homes and businesses.

About 196,000 utility customers in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula are without electricity after a storm packing strong winds, hail and lightning crossed parts of the state.

With temperatures rising above 95 degrees this week, cooling centers will be open in Clinton, Eaton, Ingham and Jackson counties. 

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed legislation to allocate $15 million to a low-interest loan program to help farmers who face financial losses because wet weather is making it hard to plant crops.

UPDATED at 3:15 p.m.:  Police say divers have found the body of an 11-year-old boy who disappeared in the Grand River in Lansing.