Holiday Travel Frenzy Faces Frosty Challenge in Metro Detroit

A variety of precipitation types, such as snow, rain, and sleet, will disrupt travelers and last-minute shoppers in Southeast Michigan prior to Christmas.

On Sunday night, expect mostly cloudy conditions with temperatures dropping to around 20 degrees. Winds will blow from the south at 5 to 10 mph.

Monday

On Monday, a low-pressure system will traverse the Great Lakes, bringing a possibility of mixed precipitation. The morning will start off cloudy with a chance of flurries before dawn. Following that, precipitation will move in from the northwest, intensifying in the late morning and early afternoon.

Areas north of I-69 will primarily see snow, with potential accumulations of two to four inches by nighttime. Between I-69 and I-94, a mix of rain and snow with the possibility of sleet is anticipated. To the south of I-94, expect some rain and mixing with minimal to no snow accumulation.

Most of Metro Detroit will see accumulations ranging from half an inch to two inches. This weather will affect driving conditions in the afternoon and evening.

Aside from the wet weather anticipated on Monday, temperatures will normalize with highs in the mid 30s. Winds from the south will range from 8 to 12 mph, with gusts reaching up to 20 mph.

Although the majority of the weather will clear by 9 p.m., a few lingering rain and snow showers may persist into the night. Otherwise, cloudy conditions will prevail, with lows ranging in the lower to mid 30s.

Tuesday

On Tuesday, Christmas Eve, conditions in Metro Detroit will be calm and predominantly cloudy. Rain and snow will affect New England. Highs will hover in the mid 30s, which is close to the average, while lows will be between 25 and 30 degrees.

Christmas

Christmas Day, which coincides with the beginning of Hanukkah on Wednesday, is expected to be quite similar. Cloudy and dry conditions will dominate the day, with highs in the mid 30s and lows in the lower 30s.

Thursday

Thursday will bring yet another similar weather pattern. Boxing Day and the opening of Kwanzaa will be mostly cloudy and seasonal. Anticipate highs around 40 degrees, with lows ranging in the upper 20s to lower 30s.

Friday through the Weekend

Temperatures will ascend into the mid 40s on Friday under cloudy skies and a chance of rain showers. Expect similar cloudy conditions with more rain showers on Saturday and Sunday, where highs will vary from the upper 40s to 50 degrees.