Detroit, Michigan – Michigan is bracing for an extended period of brutal winter cold as Arctic air settles in and shows little sign of letting up through early to mid-February. Temperatures are expected to plunge this weekend, with overnight lows dropping well below zero across much of the state and daytime highs struggling to climb, creating dangerous conditions for travel and daily life.
According to the National Weather Service and NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, long-range outlooks from late January through mid-February strongly favor much below normal temperatures across the Great Lakes. This same Arctic pattern is responsible for extreme cold farther north, where parts of Minnesota are facing life-threatening lows near minus 60 degrees, while reinforcing persistent subzero air across Michigan.
The cold brings multiple hazards statewide. Snow and blowing snow remain ongoing concerns, especially across northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, while southern Lower Michigan faces icy roads during overnight periods. Slick travel is possible along I-75, I-94, I-96, US-131, and secondary roads. Rapid temperature drops also increase the risk of frost quakes, frozen pipes, and vehicle failures.
As for relief, only brief temperature moderation is possible at times, with no sustained warm-up likely before mid-February. Officials urge residents to limit outdoor exposure, prepare homes and vehicles for extreme cold, and stay alert for additional winter weather advisories and cold alerts as this prolonged Arctic outbreak continues.
