'Heading toward winter' as snow falls, air cools in Metro Detroit

Detroit — Snow is expected to continue swirling around Metro Detroit through rush hour Tuesday as a "strong cold" has taken hold in the region.

Minor snow accumulations, up to a half-inch, are expected to fall in Macomb, Oakland, Wayne and Washtenaw counties, the National Weather Service office in White Lake Twp. said. Snowfall is below monthly averages for December, with half-an-inch recorded for the month at Detroit metro airport as of 2 p.m.

Wednesday is expected to be the coldest day of the week with highs in the mid-20s, the weather service said.

Afternoon wind gusts of up to 25 mph will result in wind chills in the teens, with the wind chill pushing temperatures down to 16 in Ann Arbor, 15 in Pontiac and 19 in Detroit.

National Weather Service meteorologist Danny Costello said the drop in temperature is the result of arctic air entering the region.

That, Costello said, was "a taste of things to come." 

The record high for a Dec. 9 in Detroit is 58 degrees, recorded in 1946. Monday's high came in at 51 degrees, Costello said.

"We're heading toward winter," Costello said.

Relief from the cold should come over the weekend, as Friday's high is expected to reach the lower 40s.

Remaining week forecast for Detroit

Wednesday: High 26, Low 12, flurries in the morning

Thursday: High 36, Low 30, mostly cloudy with no precipitation

Friday: High 42, Low 34, mostly cloudy with no precipitation

Saturday: High 41, Low 28, 30% chance of rain

Sunday: High 33, Low 23, mostly cloudy with no precipitation