The science of the storm

MID-MICHIGAN More than 100 million people could be affected by this powerful winter storm that stretches from the southern plains into the Great Lakes.

The early signs of this storm's development are just as impressive as the storm itself.

Almost a week ago, several computer models suggested something was brewing that could affect the Midwest. A shift in the jet stream, which steers storms, was one element, as was a rich source of cold air in the northern plains, and warmer air and moisture available from the Gulf of Mexico.

While there are many different models that use various math equations to mimic the atmosphere, it's the advancement in computing power and more information becoming available earlier that can give forecasters a heads-up that something may be headed our way.

These models have also been consistent and mainly in agreement with each other, which added confidence in our forecasts.

As the storm bears down on us, many residents are hard at work preparing for what's to come.

We're now in an age where you the viewer have a number of ways to not just watch, but participate in our winter storm coverage.

With blizzard conditions expected overnight across the southern half of Mid-Michigan, the threat of power outages are real. Lines could snap under the weight of heavy snow along with high wind gusts.

While an outage may prevent you from watching us on ABC12, there are other ways you may still be able to get vital weather information.

Our mobile website, abc12togo.com can keep you in the know over your cell phone.

You can use battery power on your laptop computers to keep track of weather conditions through our website abc12.com and interact with us through our photo sharing pages.

We'll also have the latest school closing information available right from our front page.

Our Facebook web page is also a great place to report snow amounts, send photos and let other viewers know what's going on where you live.

We've certainly come a long way from the days of black-and-white TV and weather maps drawn with chalk and markers.

How to plan for a power outage
Using supplemental heating safely
Tips for the safe use of a portable generator

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