Winter Storm: Metro Detroit Snowfall Timeline

METRO DETROIT — The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning Wednesday for southeast Michigan, including metro Detroit where meteorologists warned 10 to 12 inches of snow will fall over the next two days.

The heavy snow is expected to start falling late Wednesday morning and last through most of the afternoon as temperatures continue dropping to the 20s. Snowfall will be coming down at a half-inch to an inch per hour with at least 7 inches of snow expected by Wednesday night in metro Detroit, the National Weather Serviced warned.

The snow is expected to lighten up overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning, with roughly an 1 to 2 inches of new snow for Thursday's morning commute. However, a second wave of snow is expected to hit metro Detroit Thursday morning and last through most of the afternoon, the National Weather Serviced warned.

Thursday snow won't be as intense as Wednesday's, but 2 to 3 of new snow is expected by Thursday night, when the winter storm warning is set to expire for metro Detroit, leaving the area with somewhere between 10 and 12 inches of snow, the National Weather Serviced warned.

With the snow ending Thursday night, Friday's temperatures will start in the single digits, with subzero wind chills before warming up to the upper teens. As of Wednesday, the weekend looks dry and sunny, but cold with highs only reaching the low 20s.