A round of heavy, wet snow that fell across Southeast Michigan Tuesday night and Wednesday morning is creating a new hazard as temperatures rapidly drop below freezing. Slush and standing water left on roads, sidewalks and driveways will freeze into hard-packed snow and ice, leading to potentially slick travel conditions through the Wednesday evening commute and overnight.
While snowfall has tapered in most locations, the combination of cold air and lingering moisture will make untreated surfaces especially dangerous. Even plowed roadways may develop icy spots as temperatures fall lower into the 20s and teens after highs in the mid-30s.
Refreeze hazard
Snow fell as a heavy, dense slush that compacted under vehicle traffic. Once temperatures fall, that slush will harden and become difficult to scrape or shovel without treatment.
Surface temperatures will fall sharply behind the cold front, dropping into the 20s by early evening and the teens overnight. Areas that saw the most accumulation north of Detroit are at greatest risk of ice, but icy patches are possible across the entire region.
Drivers are urged to use caution, slow down, and allow extra stopping distance, especially on bridges, ramps, neighborhood streets and parking lots. Pedestrians should also be alert for ice on sidewalks.
Wind chills and frigid nights ahead
Colder air settles in for the rest of the week, with daytime highs only in the 20s Thursday through Sunday. Overnight lows will fall into the teens and single digits, and wind chills may dip below zero at times—particularly late Saturday night and early Sunday morning as arctic air pushes south.
More snow chances
Although totals should remain light, several disturbances will bring periodic snow chances from Thursday into Saturday. Each round looks minor; but additional slick spots are possible, especially overnight and early morning.
Sunday turns brighter but remains bitterly cold, and a gradual warmup is expected early next week with highs returning to near 30 degrees by Tuesday.
What to know
- Refreeze developing this evening
- Slushy snow becomes hard ice
- Slick roads, sidewalks and driveways
- Wind chills near or below zero
- More light snow chances through Saturday
Snow totals through Wednesday afternoon:
7.0” Lake Orion
6.3” Leonard
6.2″ White Lake
6.1” Clarkston
6.0” Milford
5.4” Wixom
5.0” Bloomfield Hills
5.0” Davisburg
5.0” Shelby Township
5.0” Lexington
4.5” Novi
4.5” Rochester Hills
4.5” Riley Center
4.5” Lapeer
4.5” Sanilac
4.2” Memphis
4.0” Grand Blanc
4.0” Sterling Heights
3.8” Farmington Hills
3.8” Howell
3.5” Ann Arbor
3.5” Argentine Township
3.5” Goodrich
3.5” Macomb Township
3.3” New Haven
3.2” Riverview
3.1” Davison
3.0” Linden
2.1” Redford
2.1” Ypsilanti
2.0” Livonia
2.0” Hamburg
1.7” Saline
1.6” Garden City
1.5” New Baltimore
1.4” Saint Clair
1.0” Ottawa Lake
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