DETROIT – The first snowfall of the season is approaching Southeast Michigan, but how much snow should you actually expect over the next 24 hours?
Parts of the area could see a few snowflakes after sundown Wednesday, but the majority of the snow will arrive early Thursday morning.
It’s expected to pick up around 3-4 a.m. Thursday and last into the morning commute. And while there’s a good chance it will affect visibility and make the roads slick, this is not expected to leave much snow on the ground.
Local 4 meteorologist Ashlee Baracy said this snowfall will mostly be a traffic event.
How much snow will we get?
Areas west of U.S. 23 are at the very top end of the possible snow totals. There’s a chance some spots could get up to an inch of snow.
Jackson and Flint could get around a half-inch, at most.
But this will not be an accumulating snow east of U.S. 23. There might be a dusting that lasts through parts of the day Thursday, but you won’t need to get your shovels out.
By the time you wake up Friday morning, you likely won’t see any more snow.
Why no accumulation?
The 4Warn Weather team isn’t expecting accumulation because surface and road temperatures are still in the 40s.
The ground isn’t yet frozen.
That’s why this wet snow will melt quickly and become more of a nuisance on the roads than a major weather event.
Timeline
Some parts of Southeast Michigan could see a few snowflakes on Wednesday evening, but that will be very isolated.
More scattered snowfall will become widespread around 3-4 a.m. Thursday, and that will persist into midday.
By lunchtime, the snow should be done. It’ll just be scattered pockets rolling through, and it won’t be intense.
Not a major snowfall
You’ll have to set your alarm clock a little early Thursday because of the tricky morning commute, but again, the 4Warn Weather team isn’t expecting a major storm.
It’s the first snowfall of the season, so driving conditions will be tenuous.
Wind chills will be in the 20s. More rain is in the forecast for Friday, and conditions are mainly dry for the weekend as highs stay in the 40s.
