Winter Storm Could Bring Blizzard Conditions To Metro Detroit

METRO DETROIT — A powerful winter storm that's developing in the high plains and upper Midwest could bring accumulating snow and powerful winds to the metro Detroit area this week, disrupting holiday travel plans, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters expect the storm to bring mostly rain Thursday before transitioning into snow Friday as temperatures plunge to near single digits with powerful wind gusts reaching up to 50 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service.

Meteorologists said it's still early to determine how much snow will fall in the metro Detroit area Friday, but said most models agree there could be at least a couple of inches of snow in the metro area and with up to a foot in the northern suburbs.

Forecasters are also concerned the high winds could cause power outages Friday across Michigan just as temperatures are set to fall into the teens with single digit wind chills.

"The combination of strong winds in excess of 50 miles per hour and falling snow will likely result in major disruptions to travel across Southeast Michigan beginning early Friday morning and continuing though Saturday," the National Weather Service said.

Here's the extended metro Detroit forecast from the National Weather Service:

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35 degrees. South southwest wind 5 to 7 miles per hour.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34 degrees. Light and variable wind.

Thursday: A chance of snow before 10am, then a chance of rain and snow between 10am and 1pm, then rain likely after 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 41 degrees. South southeast wind 7 to 10 miles per hour. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Friday: Snow and freezing rain, becoming all snow after 7 a.m. Areas of blowing snow after 1 p.m. High near 28 degrees. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

Saturday: A chance of snow. Cloudy, with a high near 18 degrees. Breezy.

Christmas Day: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 19 degrees.