Metro Detroit weather: 2 rounds of snow today and tomorrow
Two rounds of winter weather on the way between today and Wednesday
1-2" expected Tuesday morning; Another 1-4" expected Wednesday morning
DETROIT (FOX 2) - Tuesday starts with that unmistakable bite of mid-December cold, teens on the thermometer and our first wave of snow sliding in right on schedule.
Round one is a quick mover, dropping a clean 1 to 2 inches through the morning — most of us will land closer to an inch. It’s enough to freshen up the roads and give everything that winter look, but not enough to overwhelm crews.
VIEW: Live road conditions
By midday, the snow eases off, giving us a brief and very temporary breather before the real show arrives.
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Stronger system arrives
Round two is the one to watch. A stronger, more dynamic system pushes in tonight around 10 p.m., and it starts as snow for everyone. From there, the forecast hinges on how aggressively a pocket of milder air surges north.
Temperatures rise to about 35° overnight, and that’s warm enough to flip some of the snow to rain—mainly across our southern counties. Monroe and Lenawee are the most likely to feel that push of warmth, and as a result snowfall totals there stay light, right around an inch.
Travel north and the story changes fast. Macomb and Oakland sit right in the middle zone where the warm air may try to get in but likely won’t win out. Those areas are lined up for 2 to 4 inches of accumulation.
Go even farther north and totals climb to 3 to 5 inches. A little freezing rain may sneak in for southern spots, too — just enough for a thin glaze on elevated and untreated surfaces.
Temperatures dip again
Once the system pulls away, temperatures crash back down Wednesday night with a low near 19°. Anything wet or slushy will freeze, and that means icy conditions are back on the table for the Thursday morning drive.