Michigan Weather: Detroit’s Northern Suburbs to Get Brunt of Snow

METRO DETROIT, MI — A strong storm system is expected to move into southeast Michigan Friday night, including heavy snow at times followed by a wintry mi Saturday morning, the National Weather Service said in a hazardous weather statement.

Affected counties include Oakland, Macomb, Wayne, Washtenaw, Livingston, St. Clair , Lenawee and Monroe. The advisory is in effect through noon. Snowfall totals of around three inches are expected near the Ohio border, with heavier amounts of nearly six inches in Detroit’s northern suburbs to the Port Huron area.

Motorists should be prepared for travel difficulties, including slippery roads and limited visibilities.

Additional snow is possible Saturday night as the cold front moves through the area. The system is part of a major winter storm cutting across a 1,200-mile swath from the Rockies to the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest.

Metro Detroit will be plunged into the deep freeze after the system passes, with overnight lows of around 3 degrees predicted Sunday night. Monday’s high will be around 15.

Here’s the weekend forecast:

Friday: Snow is likely during the day, mainly before 1 p.m.; cloudy with a high near 21; south wind around 7 p.m. The daytime total should be less than a half inch. Friday night: A 100 percent chance of snow, with new accumulations averaging around 4 inches; temperatures will rise to around 28 mph by 5 a.m., increasing the possibility of a wintry mix.

See Also

• Weather Delays at Airports, Travel Hazards Expected with Major Winter Storm Along 1,200-Mile Swath
• Polar Vortex-Like Weather in Michigan: How to Protect Your Pipes from Freezing
• Danger: What’s the Michigan Law on Clearing Snow from Vehicles?

Saturday: A 60 percent chance of snow, freezing rain before noon, then rain, snow and sleet likely between noon and 1 p.m.; rain likely after 1 p.m.; cloudy with a high near 36 and south wind around 7 mph. Little or no ice accumulation is expected, and new snow and sleet accumulation of less than an inch is possible. Saturday night: A 60 percent chance of precipitation, with rain likely between 9-10 p.m.; cloudy, with a low around 18 and northwest wind 6 to 10 mph. Little or no ice accumulation is expected, and new snow and sleet accumulation of less than a half inch is possible.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 22, west wind around 10 mph. Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 3.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 15.

Photo by Scott Woods-Fehr via Flickr Commons