DETROIT – Temperatures are above average in Detroit and Southeast Michigan, but holiday shoppers need to prepare for rain Monday night. Higher temps are on the way before Christmas.
Please join me on Twitter (@AndrewLocal4) for regular weather updates.
Monday evening temps will remain in the middle and upper 30s. As rain arrives from the south and west, there are no concerns about freezing. Wet roads and sidewalks remain a hazard for holiday shoppers the rest of the night and Tuesday morning. Overnight lows remain in the middle 30s.
Steady rain will plague pedestrians and drivers at dawn, Tuesday, with the precip being heavy at times. Relatively mild air will continue to stream in and push afternoon temps to the upper 40s. Also, the afternoon will be less rainy with showers becoming more scattered. Shoppers and commuters need to remain cautious on rain-slickened streets.
Tuesday night will remain relatively warm with temps in the low 40s and more wetness.
Two areas of low pressure will slowly merge Christmas Eve, Wednesday. As they do, rain remains in the forecast Wednesday with daytime temps in the middle 40s.
As Santa, Rudolph and the eight other reindeer arrive Wednesday night, colder air moves in to the Motor City area. Just as he is delivering presents between midnight and 8am, Thursday, some festive wet snowflakes will fly and cover grassy areas. A white Christmas remains possible when families wake up with at least a dusting on lawns before noon. Thrusday afternoon will be windy, cold and mostly cloudy with temperatures in the middle 30s.
The first day a Kwanzaa, Friday, will be partly sunny and chilly with morning lows just below freezing and afternoon temps just above 40.
Friday night and Saturday will have a rain-snow mix. Saturday's temps will be between 30 and 35 degrees all day. Sunday will be colder with mostly sunny skies and temps in the 20s.
CHRISTMAS TRAVEL WEATHER
Anyone traveling to western Michigan ought to prepare for lake effect snow and snow squalls Christmas Eve while traveling to colder air.
The East Coast, from the Washington, DC-Baltimore area through New York and to New England, will receive a deluge of rain and will be hit by gusty winds. It would be wise for air travelers to call their airlines within 24 hours of departure to make sure their flights are on time. Drivers need to factor in extra time, too, especially on those multi-hour trips.
LOCAL 4 WEATHER APPS
Remember to download the FREE Local4Casters Weather app. Just go to your app store and search for "WDIV." Our local radar pops up as soon as you open the app. It is the perfect resource for traveling because you have the power to monitor 4 Live Radar anywhere in the nation.
Also, download our FREE Storm Pins app so you can take and share holiday and weather photos and videos. We know you have keen eye for gorgeous sunrises and sunsets and dazzling Christmas light displays. With Storm Pins, just pin them to a map so the Local4Casters can share them and give you a TV shout-out. Feel free to share pictures and clips with other Storm Pins users, too.
The FREE Local4Casters Weather and Storm Pins apps are the perfect way to make weather more social.
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: