Drivers across Metro Detroit are facing hazardous travel conditions during the Tuesday evening commute, as dense fog combines with wet roadways following a day of rain.
A Dense Fog Advisory will be in effect until 9 p.m. Tuesday for Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Livingston, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Wayne, Livingston, and Monroe counties in Southeast Michigan. Visibility will drop to one-quarter mile or less at times, especially along and south of the I-69 corridor.
Rain has transitioned to mostly light rain and drizzle, but roads remain slick, and visibility is the primary concern for drivers. Low clouds and fog have been slow to lift due to saturated ground, melting snow, and light winds.
Motorists should expect slower travel speeds, especially on major corridors such as I-75, I-94, I-96, I-696, I-275 and M-59. Drivers are urged to slow down, use low-beam headlights, and leave extra distance between vehicles.
Icing risk remains low, but not zero
While most of Metro Detroit remains above freezing, there is a low chance for patchy icing late tonight, particularly on bridges, overpasses and untreated surfaces, if temperatures briefly dip to near freezing while drizzle lingers. Any icing would be isolated and spotty, and widespread accumulation is not expected.
Rain coverage is expected to gradually diminish this evening, with fog remaining the more persistent hazard through much of the night. Conditions should slowly improve overnight as drier air works into the region.
Milder weather settles in for the rest of the week
Wednesday will bring patchy morning fog, followed by mostly cloudy skies and highs in the upper 30s to 40 degrees, already several degrees above normal. Average high temperatures for early January in Metro Detroit are in the lower 30s.
A continued warming trend is expected through the second half of the week, with highs climbing into the 40s Thursday and 50 degrees by Friday. That would push temperatures nearly 20 degrees above normal. Another round of rain is expected late Thursday into Friday, but temperatures will remain warm enough for mainly rain and no ice concerns.
Looking ahead to the weekend, temperatures are expected to cool back toward more seasonable levels, with additional rain chances and the potential for a rain-to-snow transition later Sunday.
For now, dense fog and wet roads are the biggest travel concerns Tuesday evening and night. While the pattern turns unseasonably mild later this week, drivers will need to remain alert for inclement weather and changing conditions later in the week.
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