Storm socks Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – Winter weather has certainly arrived in West Michigan. Kalamazoo took the brunt of the storm on Wednesday, but Grand Rapids and the lakeshore have been taking a pounding since.

Grand Rapids saw whiteout conditions Thursday morning, and things haven't gotten much better since.

Snow was falling all day in Grand Rapids, the accumulation hasn't been heavy, but the snow has provided consistently bad weather for travelers.

Snow plow drivers in the Grand Rapids area were out battling the elements to try and clear parking lots and streets for those trying to get to work.

By Thursday evening, the roads were somewhat cleared, but still slick from ice under the snow, leading to numerous slide-offs and accidents.

Many people simply didn't make it to work on Thursday, but Newschannel 3 captured some footage of construction workers out in the blizzard trying to get work done on a new building along Grand Rapids' 'medical mile.'

Newschannel 3 also spoke to a snow plow driver Thursday morning when he took a short break. Mike Rogers said he had been working since midnight trying to help out in the storm, but the day had not been an easy one for him.

“Oh I just hit a light pole on the way over to this parking lot,” said Rogers, “I had to drop the blade so I didn't go up into somebody's yard. Hit the curb and I stopped finally, so yeah, it's dangerous even with big machine, small machine, you just gotta take it easy.”

Newschannel 3 also checked with emergency workers, who were out getting the job done, albeit a little slower than usual.

As of Thursday evening, every road in Grand Rapids was in passable condition, but the going is slow and drivers are being advised to take caution.