Cold pavement glistens under streetlights as southeast Michigan heads toward a changing weather pattern.
The quiet start will not last.
Michigan begins the day dry and calm, but attention quickly shifts to late-week travel.
A developing system is expected to introduce winter weather hazards by Friday, raising concerns for post-Christmas travel across the Detroit metro area.
According to the National Weather Service in Detroit/Pontiac, drizzle may develop tonight into early Thursday.
Most areas see little impact at first.
However, temperatures hover near freezing, especially north and west of Detroit.
By Friday morning, conditions may deteriorate rapidly.
Meteorologists are tracking a high likelihood of wintry precipitation across southeast Michigan.
Freezing rain appears possible early Friday, transitioning to rain later in the day.
Ice accumulations between 0.1 and 0.2 inches are possible in localized areas.
While totals remain light, even small amounts can create slick roads and hazardous bridges.
Black ice becomes a growing concern during the morning commute window.
Snow may also mix in across parts of the Thumb and Saginaw Valley.
Those areas could see 2 to 5 inches of snow, with higher amounts farther north.
Detroit itself remains closer to the rain-ice line, where timing matters most.
Drivers should plan extra time Friday, especially during early travel hours.
Conditions may improve by afternoon as temperatures rise slightly above freezing.
Still, untreated surfaces could remain slick.
Saturday trends calmer.
Clouds linger, but major precipitation pulls away.
Temperatures hover near 40 degrees, allowing roads to gradually improve.
This system fits a broader national pattern.
While parts of the country see record warmth, the Great Lakes remain vulnerable to ice events during late December transitions.
5-Day Outlook for Detroit, Michigan
- Today: Mostly cloudy, high near 37
- Christmas Day: Partly sunny, high near 40
- Thursday: Mostly cloudy, high near 35
- Friday: Wintry mix early, then rain, high near 35
- Saturday: Mostly cloudy, high near 39
