DETROIT – When the stock market gets too high, analysts start talking about a "correction," or an expected sharp drop at some point that takes stock prices back closer to where the analysts think they should be. Today, Mother Nature did the same to us. After an unusually mild stretch of weather, an Arctic cold front that marks the beginning of a long-term temperature pattern crossed the area this morning. Temperatures held well into the 50s (about 12 degrees Celsius) overnight, and then crashed big time as soon as the front edge of that colder air mass arrived. You could have been out jogging without a coat on at 6:00 a.m., and then grabbing the coat, hat, scarf and gloves a couple of hours later when you left for work! Here’s how things transpired in Waterford:
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Although the front only generated routine showers, wind just 1000’ above the surface approached 50 mph so, as the front came through, we tapped into some of that wind and saw strong wind gusts. Here’s a map of peak gusts recorded at our airports today:
It’ll remain breezy overnight, but the Wind Advisory that remains in effect now just for Livingston, Genesee, Lapeer and Sanilac Counties will expire at 7:00 p.m. The advisory has been cancelled for all areas south of these counties, which includes most of Detroit’s immediate metropolitan area. Southwest winds will diminish to 15 to 25 mph, and skies should become mostly clear at some point. Lows in the mid to upper 20s (-3 degrees Celsius).
Mostly sunny to start our Wednesday, then skies become partly cloudy and, eventually, mostly cloudy during the afternoon. Highs in the mid to upper 30s (3 degrees Celsius). Southwest wind at 20 to 25 mph with higher gusts means that it’ll be another windy day, but not quite as windy as today.
Wednesday’s sunrise is at 7:48 a.m., and Wednesday’s sunset is at 5:01 p.m.
Mostly cloudy Wednesday night with a few flurries or light snow showers possible. Lows in the mid 20s (-5 degrees Celsius).
Mostly cloudy with snow showers possible on Thursday. Highs in the low 30s (0 to 1 degree Celsius).
Note: intense lake effect snow squall bands will develop on the eastern side of the Great Lakes later Wednesday into Thursday, so plan ahead and use a lot of caution if you’ll be traveling to the western side of the state toward Lake Michigan, Lake Superior’s Michigan shoreline, the southeastern Lake Huron shoreline, and the eastern shoreline of Lakes Erie and Ontario. The map below shows you the development of these bands of white-out conditions, so I strongly urge you to make sure you have our free Local4Casters app downloaded onto your phone so you can monitor the location of these intense bands before you run into them. Also make sure to stash some extras in your car in case you get stranded…a blanket, high-energy food (nuts, protein bars, etc.), winter clothing…and make sure not to run your fuel down too far…you’ll need that car running for heat if you get stranded. Finally, keep your cell phone charged so that’s available to you if you need it in an emergency (and close your apps to keep the battery charge higher).
Becoming partly cloudy Thursday night, with lows in the upper teens to near 20 degrees (-7 degrees Celsius).
Partly cloudy on Friday, with highs in the low 30s (0 to -1 degree Celsius).
There’s another chance of snow showers Friday night, with lows in the low 20s (-6 degrees Celsius).
Mostly cloudy with more snow showers possible on Saturday. Highs in the low 30s (0 to -1 degree Celsius).
Becoming partly cloudy Saturday night, with lows in the upper teens (-7 degrees Celsius).
Partly cloudy on Sunday, with highs in the low 30s (0 degrees Celsius).
At this point, this temperature regime looks like it will continue all the way through next week…get used to it.