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Rain, snow timeline, snowfall projections for Thursday in Metro Detroit

Wet weather kicks off Thursday morning

4Warn Weather – Our Valentine’s Day starts off cloudy and cool, but we’ll have a sunny treat this afternoon as clouds thin out.

Wednesday’s temperatures will be rather seasonal with highs in the upper 30s. Clouds will build back in tonight ahead of our next weather maker.

System approaching Michigan

A low-pressure system will track across Lower Michigan Thursday, bringing a mix of rain and accumulating snow. The greatest snowfall amounts will likely be along and north of I-69, where temperatures will trend cooler.

Highs across Metro Detroit will top out around 40 degrees on Thursday.

Here’s a breakdown of what to expect Thursday.

Snow/rain timeline

The onset will begin around 7am-8am with most pushing just after the lunch hour, so this will only last around 5 hours or less. The front edge of this system will pack a punch with snowfall rates between 1-2 inches per hour which will allow for a quick coating of snow for the later part of the morning commute before any melting or changeover to rain occurs. However, Monroe and Lenawee counties will likely see more rain throughout the duration of the system.

Snowfall projections

As of right now, it looks like we will pick up little to no accumulation south of I-94 due to warmer temperatures resulting in rain. From I-94 to I-696, will likely be the corridor of a rain/snow mix. How much rain mixes in will greatly impact the slushy accumulation, but it appears as if we will pick up less than an inch to possibly two inches the farther north you go. Looking at 1-3″ from I-696 to M-59 and 3-5″ north of M-59.

Precipitation type

South of I-94 has a better chance of this being a mainly rain event. A rain/snow mix is more likely across Washtenaw and Wayne counties. North of I-696 will have more snowfall from this system. The rain/snow line will be very tight meaning a shift in ten miles could greatly chance what some communities closer to I-94 see.

Winds

Northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph will be possible Thursday afternoon and Thursday evening with gusts around 40 mph, making for blustery conditions in the wake of the wet, wintry weather.

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About the Author
Ashlee Baracy headshot

Ashlee Baracy is an Emmy award-winning meteorologist who was born and raised in Metro Detroit. You can catch her 4Warn Weather forecasts weekday mornings, at noon and streaming on Local4+.

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