Southeast Michigan braces for first significant snowfall of season; up to 7 inches possible
Expect to get a cold blast and, in some places, potentially more than a half-foot of snow this week after a December in Michigan — and much of the rest of the Midwest — that seemed, downright balmy.
"It’s kind of our first bigger snow event this season," Andrew Arnold, a National Weather Service meteorologist in White Lake Township, said Monday morning. "We do have a winter storm weather watch that is out, up toward Midland and Bay County."
The watch is triggered by a forecast Tuesday of about 6 or more inches of snowfall.
This weekend in metro Detroit, there were some light flurries, but southeast Michigan is likely to see a few inches — between 2 and 7 inches — Tuesday, with the worst of it coming down between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Arnold said.
How much will stay on the ground is unclear.
Temperatures could rise Tuesday afternoon into the low 40s, which would turn snow to rain and end up melting away any accumulations, Arnold said. But by Wednesday, it is expected to cool off again, with more snow potential.
There also could be snow Thursday, and then more Friday evening heading into the weekend, which is expected to be even colder, with temperatures dropping below freezing and into the 20s.
Overall, Arnold said, Michigan's winter has been warmer than usual, and is on track, based on the early climate predictions, to remain so through March, minus a week or two of the storm systems coming up.
A winter storm will impact southeast MI Tuesday and Tuesday night. A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for Midland and Bay Counties, but all of SE MI will see accumulations of heavy wet snow that will impact the Tues morning commute #miwx pic.twitter.com/TAmPNSd2J7
— NWS Detroit (@NWSDetroit) January 8, 2024
"Yes, December was on the warm side of normal,” Arnold said, noting that has been the overall trend for the past few years. The temperatures, he added, seem to be changing later in winter, and "trending cooler in the spring."
On Dec. 9, Detroit hit a one-day record high, 63 degrees, breaking the previous record of 58 degrees in 1946. And for December, the daily high has been about 8 degrees warmer than usual, 45.1 degrees last month compared with 37.1 degrees.
The average daily temperature gap, Arnold said, was even greater, 40.1 degrees to 31.3 degrees.
Some scientists blame climate change and warn the trend will continue.
But this week, Arnold said, bundle up, plan for longer and slower commutes to school and work, and even be prepared — possibly — in case school officials declare a snow day or two because "we’ll definitely get a cold blast."
Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Part of Michigan under storm watch: 6 inches of snow, frigid forecast
