Today's widespread rain for a huge area of the Lower Peninsula also comes with some freezing rain and an increased chance for thunderstorms.

It’s not looking like too heavy of a storm, but some time after the clock chimes in the new year, light rain is expected to move in, and it will get heavier during New Year’s Day, with likely a half to 1 inch expected in this storm, said NWS Meteorologist David Gomberg.

A strong storm system will sweep across the Midwest late Saturday night through Monday, bringing rain, strong winds, falling temperatures and a risk of power outages across Southeast Michigan.

Officials in Los Angeles and surrounding counties warned that the giant holiday storm could trigger "widespread flash flooding."

The simple safety idea is to avoid driving Friday morning after 5 a.m. By 1 p.m. temperatures will be around 32 degrees, and the freezing rain will be tapering off. The interstates and state highways may have icy conditions improving Friday afternoon.

A flood watch remained for the Bay Area after the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning overnight until 6 a.m.

Swaths of Southern California are under flash flood warnings through the afternoon and evening of Christmas Eve. What's next?

Rain totals will range from about 2 to 4 inches over the 3-day stretch from Wednesday to Friday with the heaviest accumulations in North County.