Detroit residents can expect a mixed bag of winter weather this week with flurries, rain, and some potential for icy conditions, according to the latest forecasts.
Early birds may have spotted scattered flurries before 10 a.m. today, and while the sun might break through later, the high is pegged near a chilly 27 degrees. A calm breeze, from the east around 6 mph, keeps things feeling brisk. Shifting gears into tonight, the clouds partly scatter and temperatures dip to about 17 degrees. Later, a south-southwest wind will pick up, reaching 5 to 8 mph after midnight.
Moving into Tuesday, Detroiters should brace for snowfall that could be followed by a freezing mix after 11 a.m., turning to cloudy skies and a high of about 35 degrees. "Snow likely, mixing with freezing rain after 11am, then gradually ending," says a forecast on the National Weather Service website. The strength of the south-southwest wind is expected to increase, with gusts that could top out at 28 mph. Despite a 70 percent chance of precipitation, ice accumulation is anticipated to be minimal. Less than one inch of new snow could settle before the day is through.
As per the National Weather Service, Tuesday night will likely see more snow before 10 p.m., followed by a wintry mix until the early hours of Wednesday, when rain takes over. A steady south-southwest wind of 10 to 14 mph could include gusts as high as 26 mph. The chance of precipitation is pegged at a definite 100 percent, though new snow accumulation should remain under one inch.
Looking ahead to Wednesday, rainfall is on the agenda until the afternoon, with temperatures climbing to a relative high of 39 degrees. A transition to a west-northwest wind could usher in gusts nearing 29 mph. Even though the chance of precipitation stands at 80 percent, any new snow accumulation should be less than half an inch. That night, there's a 30 percent chance of snow before the sky clears up slightly and temperatures drop to around 20.
The rest of the week seems to follow a similar pattern, offering partial sun and chances of snowfall. Thursday's high is expected to be near 29 degrees, leading into a cooler night with lows around 18. The possibilities of snow extend into the weekend, with Friday's high near 27 and night temperatures falling to 12 degrees, while Saturday offers a respite of partly sunny skies though the mercury keeps low, plateauing at a high near 22 degrees.
