Metro Detroit is enduring an unusually cold stretch to start the week, part of one of the coldest openings to December in decades for parts of Southeast Michigan.
The cold snap has already produced impacts, including slick sidewalks from light snow showers and refreezing, higher heating demand, and increased risk of frostbite during prolonged outdoor exposure.
Even brief time outside without proper winter gear can lead to cold stress, particularly during the morning and evening hours when wind chills are lowest. Children, older adults, and people experiencing homelessness are among the most vulnerable during these conditions. Pets may be affected by the cold and rock salt.
The combination of cold pavement and occasional flurries has kept travel conditions locally slick, especially on untreated roads and sidewalks.
Temperatures will remain cold through Monday. Under mostly cloudy skies, lows will be in the teens.
A gradual warmup begins Tuesday as southwest winds usher in milder air. Highs will climb into the lower-30s across Metro Detroit, with the Thumb remaining a few degrees cooler.
By Wednesday, temperatures are expected to reach the upper-30s to near 40 degrees in the Metro area, marking a noticeable thaw after several days of bitter cold.
The warming trend peaks Thursday, when highs are forecast to reach the mid-40s in Metro Detroit.
Rain is expected to develop during the day as a strong storm system moves through the Great Lakes. The warmer temperatures will accelerate snowmelt, which could lead to ponding of water on roads and in low-lying areas, especially where storm drains remain blocked by ice or snow.
The Thumb is expected to remain cooler than Metro Detroit throughout the week, with a higher likelihood of mixed precipitation or lingering snow as colder air holds on longer.
As colder air returns Thursday night into Friday, rain may transition back to snow in some areas, followed by falling temperatures and gusty winds.
People are encouraged to prepare for rapidly changing conditions later this week, including wet roads, gusty winds, and a return to colder air after the brief thaw.
Until then, consider dressing in layers, limiting time outdoors during peak cold, checking on vulnerable neighbors, and ensuring pets are kept warm and safe.
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