There’s plenty of wiggle room in the National Weather Service’s forecast for a winter storm that’s expected to arrive Sunday in metro Detroit.
The storm is expected to hit as Michigan continues to experience extremely cold temperatures.
The NWS issued snow total estimates with ranges of about 5 inches for most southeast Michigan communities. Low-end and high-end predictions widen the gap even further.
The difference in low- and high-end ranges is vast in most southeast Michigan communities. As of Friday afternoon, Detroit is expected to get 4-7 inches of snow, but low- and high-end estimates could mean anywhere from 2 to 8 inches.
Monroe is expected to get 4-8 inches of snow, but could see anywhere from 2 to 10 inches. Ann Arbor is estimated at 3-7 inches, but could see between 1 and 8 inches.
Cold temperatures continue Sunday with wind chills between 0 and minus-10 degrees.
Whether the winter storm becomes a snow boom or bust, we have tips you need to prepare and stay warm during the arctic blast.
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Extreme cold warning expands
An extreme cold warning in Michigan has expanded to the Lower Peninsula as subzero wind chills sweep southward Friday, Jan. 23.
“Dangerous wind chills today (Jan. 23), especially this AM. Wind chills in the -20s; some areas could feel as cold as -30F,” the Gaylord National Weather Service said on X on Jan. 23. “Frostbite can develop in as little as 30 minutes on exposed skin. Limit time outdoors, dress in layers. Keep a winter weather survival kit in your vehicle.”
An extreme cold warning is in place for most of Upper Peninsula and lower Michigan — as far south as Grand Rapids — because of wind chills as low as minus 45 degrees. The coldest air is expected to occur in the U.P.
The National Weather Service storm reports website said locations across northern Michigan recorded actual air temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees early Friday morning.
—Sarah Moore, Lansing State Journal
Will that massive winter storm crossing the United States hit Michigan?
Michigan’s frigid conditions are the result of an Arctic air mass that typically is located around Hudson Bay in northern Canada. It has been descending south and has now moved into the northern Great Lakes, National Weather Service meteorologist Steven Freitag said. The jet stream, a fast-flowing “river of air” in the upper atmosphere, is just below the low-pressure system that’s moved into the Great Lakes, meaning it’s channeling that Arctic air into the region.
“For the weekend, we’ve got a southern system just off Baja California that’s going to trek through the Gulf Coast states and grab that Gulf of Mexico moisture, and you are going to have the Battle of Air Masses,” he said. “It’s leading to that big storm we are all hearing about over the Tennessee and Kentucky valley and Mid-Atlantic.”
Michigan will be on the northern fringe of that weather chaos, “but it’s still going to be strong enough to produce snow for the Detroit Metro area; certainly Detroit could see 4 inches or more on Sunday,” Freitag said.
—Keith Matheny
Warming centers open for those who need them
Warming centers and shelters are available across metro Detroit for unhoused residents who need a reprieve from dangerously cold temperatures. The city of Detroit has three overnight standby shelters, available for walk-ins, through Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 12 p.m. Those who need a ride can call the Detroit Housing Resource HelpLine at 866-313-2520 to get connected to a street outreach team or they can go to a nearby police station.
Here are the three standby shelters:
“We want to stress that there is help, there are resources, there are safe centers available through our rec centers and other sites and there are shelter beds available for every single resident who is in need,” Mayor Mary Sheffield said on Friday, Jan. 23 at the Coleman A. Young Recreation Center.
Detroit library branches and recreation centers can also serve as temporary respite spots, too, during regular operating hours.
Wayne, Macomb and Oakland counties have listed warming centers on their respective websites. The Free Press has compiled a list of resources.
− Nushrat Rahman
Frigid temps have Great Lakes icing over quickly
What a difference a few very cold days make.The Great Lakes collectively are about 23% ice covered, according to data compiled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor. That’s up almost six percentage points from only four days ago.
Lake Erie was just under 2% ice-covered on January 14. As of January 22 it’s at more than 75% ice-covered. It’s a similar story on non-Great Lake St. Clair. The lake was about 13% ice-covered on January 14 and is now almost completely ice-covered, 99%, a little more than a week later.Great Lakes freighter shipments have slowed considerably, but there are still some ships out on the water. The Canadian oil and chemical tanker Algoberta required the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mobile Bay to break a path through northern Lake Michigan for the ship to dock in Green Bay on Thursday. The ship is now on its slow, wintry way back to port in Nanticoke, Ontario on Lake Erie across from Erie, Pennsylvania.
Water main break in Melvindale leads to ‘frozen lake’ in street
An overnight water main break in Melvindale near Interstate 94 and Greenfield Road led to a “frozen lake” of deep ice in neighborhood streets, including at least one car frozen in place, according to social media reports.
Michigan Humane ups its animal cruelty and rescue operations
As temperatures plunge, Michigan Humane reports it has received triple the number of calls to its cruelty hotline since Monday reporting animals left outside, other animal neglect, and families seeking emergency pet supplies.
The nonprofit animal welfare organization said it is increasing its in-field presence across Detroit.
“Any dog found left outside unattended, without shelter or with inadequate shelter, is brought into Michigan Humane’s care immediately,” Michigan Humane officials said.
Michigan Humane’s cruelty hotline is 313-872-3401 daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., or leave a detailed message any time.
Consumers Energy crews headed to Arkansas for winter storm help
Consumers Energy is mobilizing more than 50 employees and equipment to assist Arkansas energy providers bracing for a severe winter storm expected this weekend.
The Consumers Energy contingent of utility crews, electric service workers and other support staff from around Michigan hit the road south from Jackson early Friday.
“We stand ready to support Arkansas communities as they brace for a storm that could cause widespread outages,” said Greg Salisbury, senior vice president and president of electric distribution. “When severe weather hits Michigan, out-of-state crews often come to our aid. With conditions here remaining stable, we’re proud to return that support and help ensure families and businesses can get their power back quickly and safely.”
Current forecasts call for heavy snow, freezing rain and strong winds across much of Arkansas, beginning Friday and intensifying into the weekend. These conditions have the potential to damage trees and power lines, leading to significant service interruptions.
Consumers Energy crews will travel first to Little Rock, Arkansas, with exact work locations determined based on storm impacts. Teams may remain deployed for up to two weeks depending on restoration needs. Consumers Energy regularly participates in mutual assistance efforts with energy providers across the country including most recently in 2024 when nearly 200 coworkers supported three weather events.
Detroit Zoo, other places closed Friday and Saturday due to extreme cold
Here are local institutions closing or operating virtually Jan. 23 amid severe cold:
—Jenna Prestininzi
Cold and snow in Michigan: What to know
Be prepared for whatever is in Michigan’s weather forecast with live doppler radar from the National Weather Service below. We also have resources on how to check your power outage status.
Michigan weather radar
(Hit refresh on your browser for the latest radar loop.)
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How much snow will Michigan get? Winter storm forecast updates
Reporting by Tanya Wildt and Keith Matheny, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
