The Mackinac Bridge Authority is warning drivers to use extra care on Monday, Dec. 29, as blowing snow and high winds are making crossing hazardous.
The blowing snow is entirely obscuring views of the Mackinac Bridge on the webcams that offer continuous pictures of the 5-mile-long structure in northern Michigan.
A severe winter storm, known as a bomb cyclone, is dropping more than 2 feet of snow in parts of the Upper Peninsula. Winds gusts up to 69 mph — 1 mph below hurricane strength — have been reported on Lake Superior.
“Blowing snow and limited visibility on the #MackinacBridge. Reduce speed to 20mph max, turn on low-beam headlights and drive with caution. MBA monitoring conditions at various points along bridge. Additional steps will be implemented if conditions change,” the Mackinac Bridge Authority said on X on Dec. 29.
The Authority operates five bridge cams that update once per minute. At 10:35 a.m. Dec. 29, the bridge was not visible from any of the five cameras.
“Currently we are experiencing blowing snow in the Straits area. Due to limited visibility it is necessary to issue a warning to all motorists preparing to cross the Mackinac Bridge. In addition to limited visibility, the road surface may be slippery,” the Authority said on its website.
Here’s what to know about bridge conditions.
How do bridge officials decide when to close the bridge?
The Mackinac Bridge Authority will take increasing steps to manage traffic in windy conditions, including:
Does the bridge close for other reasons?
Yes, in March and April 2025, the bridge closed for several days because of falling ice. A winter storm coated the bridge’s cables and other surfaces. When the temperature rose, large chunks of ice fell to the bridge deck.
How to view Mackinac Bridge cams
Travelers can check the Mackinac Bridge Cam online for updates. The images from multiple cameras are configured to automatically update every 60 seconds.
Cameras capture the administration building looking south, the dock in St. Ignace, looking south; Bridge View Park in St. Ignace, looking south; from Mackinaw City, looking north; and St. Ignace, along Interstate 75.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Heavy snow makes Mackinac Bridge disappear. See weather on Dec. 29
Reporting by Dan Basso, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
