Breath hangs in the air along Woodward Avenue this morning, and frost grips windshields across Metro Detroit. At just 18 degrees under clear skies, the cold cuts deep before sunrise.
Michigan wakes up locked in a sharp late-winter chill, but sunshine quickly takes control. According to the National Weather Service in Detroit/Pontiac, temperatures climb to 36 degrees this afternoon with light southwest winds. The rebound will feel noticeable, though shaded sidewalks may stay slick from lingering ice.
Drivers along I-75, I-94, and the Lodge should remain alert early. This is prime flash-freeze season. Any melting during the afternoon can refreeze after sunset as temperatures fall back to 29 degrees tonight.
Friday delivers a major swing. Mostly sunny skies push highs to 53 degrees with gusts near 29 mph. Snow piles soften, and slush may develop near curbs. Saturday stays mostly cloudy with highs near 42 before the next system arrives.
Snow showers become likely Saturday night with temperatures dropping to 21 degrees. Even light accumulation could create slick spots before daybreak Sunday. Sunday stays colder with highs near 29 as clouds gradually decrease.
By Monday, partly sunny skies return with highs around 30. A gradual warming trend builds into midweek, with readings climbing into the 40s by Tuesday and Wednesday. Longer-range signals favor above-normal temperatures heading into early March, hinting that spring warmth is edging closer.
Are you noticing icy patches or melting snow in your neighborhood? Let us know what conditions look like where you are.
Five Day Outlook for Detroit, MI:
Friday: Mostly sunny, high 53.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, high 42.
Sunday: Decreasing clouds, high 29.
Monday: Partly sunny, high 30.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, high 40.
