It is Christmas Eve. While most of the holiday itself will bring relatively quiet weather, travelers should stay alert to a developing wintry system that could cause problems late Christmas night into Friday morning.
Christmas Eve (Tuesday) will be mostly cloudy, with highs in the mid- to upper-30s. Winds remain light, helping to keep conditions manageable for last-minute errands and holiday travel.
Wednesday night, a slight chance of drizzle or light snow develops, mainly south of M-59. In Oakland, Washtenaw and Lenawee counties, a brief period of freezing drizzle is possible, though little to no ice accumulation is expected. Lows settle near freezing in Metro Detroit and closer to the upper-20s farther north.
Christmas Day (Thursday) brings partly sunny skies and seasonably cool temperatures. Highs reach the upper-30s to lower-40s in Metro Detroit, while the Thumb remains cooler. Winds turn northeasterly and may gust at times, but overall conditions look favorable for holiday gatherings and daytime travel.
Changes arrive Thursday night as colder air pushes in and moisture increases. Clouds thicken, and temperatures fall into the 20s. This sets the stage for a wintry mix late Thursday night into Friday morning, when freezing rain becomes possible.
Friday poses the greatest concern for travelers. Widespread freezing rain is expected, especially during the morning hours, before temperatures slowly rise and precipitation transitions to rain in parts of Metro Detroit. Ice accumulations of one-tenth to two-tenths of an inch are possible in Southeast Michigan. Communities north of I-69 could also see a light accumulation of snow mixed in. Even small amounts of ice can create hazardous driving conditions, particularly on untreated roads, bridges and overpasses.
Conditions improve Friday night into Saturday as the system exits. Clouds linger and peak temperatures remain near 40 degrees on Saturday. Another push of colder air arrives late Sunday into early next week, bringing a return to winterlike chill and breezy conditions.
Nationally, Christmas travel will be impacted by multiple weather hazards. A storm system stretching from the Plains into the Midwest and Great Lakes will bring rain, snow and freezing rain, creating delays at major airport hubs and slick roadways across portions of the region. Farther west, mountain snow continues to affect travel through the Rockies, while rain and gusty winds impact parts of the Pacific Northwest. In the East, periods of rain and gusty winds could slow travel along the I-95 corridor.
Travelers are urged to monitor 4Warn Weather forecasts closely, allow extra travel time, and be prepared for changing road conditions, especially late Thursday night through Friday morning when freezing rain poses the highest risk.
Share your holiday and weather photos with Local 4 at MIPics.