Detroit, MI – As Michigan heads into Black Friday weekend, state weather officials are urging Detroit-area homeowners to complete winter preparations before another round of freezing temperatures moves across the region.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), La Niña conditions may bring more abrupt temperature changes across the Great Lakes this season. That includes sharp shifts from daytime thaws to rapid overnight freezes, which can lead to burst pipes, ice dams, and heating system strain throughout Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties. Forecasts show nighttime lows dropping into the 20s across Metro Detroit late Friday into early Saturday.
Home maintenance experts recommend starting with essential winterization tasks: insulating exposed pipes, especially in basements and crawl spaces common in Detroit’s older housing stock. Clearing gutters and downspouts is also crucial to reducing ice dam formation as melting snow and rain refreeze overnight.
Energy specialists urge homeowners to seal drafty windows and doors, test furnace performance, and check attic insulation levels before the colder December pattern sets in. Fire officials further emphasize testing smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, noting that heating-related emergencies typically increase statewide after Thanksgiving.
Emergency management leaders encourage checking on elderly neighbors or family members who may need help preparing their homes before the holiday weekend’s colder conditions move in.
