Metro Detroit weather: Clouds creep in ahead of Friday snow

Thursday to remain dry with highs in low 40s

DETROITGood Thursday afternoon!

Partly-to-mostly cloudy skies will rule the day, as the filtered sunshine will only have a few windows to brighten our skies, and these mid and high level clouds are a sign of change in the air.

A combination of only partly sunny skies and the leading edge of some cooler Canadian air will keep our highs today near 41 degrees, which is significantly cooler than yesterday.

The good news is, we will stay dry today. The radar will show snow showers approaching from the Southwest, feeding clouds into the dry air here, which will fend off the snow later today and tonight.

Today’s sunset is at 6:34 p.m.

Snow showers will try to catch on Thursday night and overnight, but it looks like the dry air here will win out until after midnight.

Snowy Friday

The timetable has moved up, bringing snow chances into SE Lower Michigan and Southern Ontario starting around 1 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday, and lasting into the morning drive.

All of the computer snow models have lowered expectations when it comes to snow totals. It looks like we will get around an inch of snow early Friday -- and that will be a problem for the morning drive for all of us.

There will be a dry slot, or a break in the action, mid-morning. Then, we’ll get more snow on-and-off for another dusting to an inch throughout the afternoon and early evening. There’s a good chance that most of Metro Detroit will only get an inch of snow in total, with isolated areas south and west of Downtown Detroit getting a couple of inches.

Friday temperatures will be in the mid-30s with light and variable winds.

Some light snow will linger late Friday and early Saturday, keeping our roads a bit slippery with dropping temps and spotty ice.

Cold Saturday, warming up Sunday

An unusual March Polar Vortex will move over the Great Lakes Friday and early Saturday, bringing that last bit of snow. Get set for a cold and blustery day Saturday. Temps will stay in the 20s and the gusty winds will be cranking NW at 15-25 mph.

Don’t forget to “spring forward,” or move your clocks ahead one hour before you go to sleep on Saturday night. Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. this Sunday, March 13.

Sunday shows a weak disturbance moving over Metro Detroit in the morning, bringing a dusting of snow. Then we’ll see partly sunny skies and a breeze, and we’ll be warming into the upper 30s to low 40s.

A nice and slow, but steady, warm-up will be something to look forward to next week. We will be hovering around 50 degrees for highs Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. It’s early, but our computer models show some rain possible on Tuesday of next week.

Remember to download the FREE Local4Casters weather app -- it’s easily one of the best in the nation. Just search your app store under WDIV and it’s right there available for both iPhones and Androids! Or click the appropriate link below.