DETROIT – Much of Saturday, especially the morning, will be wet with temperatures nearly 10 degrees above freezing. Temps will start in the middle 30s at sunrise with moderate to heavy rain over most of the Detroit area. Also, fog will limit visibility greatly. Drivers will need to keep their low beams on and watch for pedestrians and other motorists.
Thawing will continue, also, and the combined liquid water runoff could be equivalent to a one to two inch rain storm. Localized flooding, including ponding on roads, is possible. Residents near creeks, streams and rivers need to watch for ice dams that could block water flow and inundate low-lying areas with water.
High temps will reach 40 degrees or slightly more early afternoon, Saturday before falling closer to freezing at sunset. It will continue to be soggy with light to moderate rain and cloudy skies. Sunset is at 5:22pm.
As night descends upon Detroit and Southeast Michigan, the mercury will too. Temps will be near freezing by dinnertime and afterward. Re-freezing may occur in isolated spots north and west of Detroit Saturday evening. Scattered snow showers will fall into the nighttime.
Saturday night will have a few snowflakes that will not amount to much. However, all of the Motor City area will need to be wary of ice re-forming. Basketball fans going to the Pistons game against the Phoenix Suns at The Palace of Auburn Hills will need to drive carefully before and after the game. Ramps, bridges and overpasses are likely to freeze first towards midnight and afterward. Low temperatures will be in the upper 20s by Sunday morning.
Sunday afternoon will be sunnier and remain chilly with highs in the middle and upper 30s. It will be a good day to get the car washed and store any holiday decorations. Also, it will be a pretty day for the Plymouth Ice Festival.
Monday and the rest of next week will be colder but not as frigid as the polar vortex-induced days of this week. Monday will have a chance of light rain and snow with highs in the upper 30s. Tuesday will be colder with snow from an Alberta Clipper and highs near freezing. Snow may be measurable. Wednesday and Thursday will have highs in the 20s and lows in the teens.
Your latest weather forecast is always on Local 4?s new, FREE ClickOnDetroit app. You can track snow, ice or rain on 4 Live Radar anywhere in Michigan, the Midwest or America. Check your app store.
Weather links: