Mild temperatures will return before a major cooldown takes place next week

DETROIT – Our forecast is getting a little more active as we head into the Christmas holidays. Expect a slightly milder stretch and a big cool down at the end of next week.

Snow envelops Wednesday evening, leaving very little behind.

Thursday we will see more snow showers in some places, but less than Wednesday. No accumulation is expected.

The opportunity returns on Saturday afternoon after a few rain showers. This also looks like it will leave minimal or no accumulation. As we move through these odds, temperatures will get a little milder.

Normal highlights are in the mid 30’s and for the second day in a row Wednesday we couldn’t get there.

Thursday will bring a few more degrees, but the day will still be a poor end.

The top 30s arrive on Friday. Then we eventually hit 40 degrees on both weekend days. The maximum temperature will remain around 40 degrees for the first half of next week, and then the chill sets in as Santa’s sleigh approaches.

Christmas is now less than 10 days away. Obviously, we cannot record exact numbers and timing so far. But the general pattern shows pretty good consistency between our long-term model range: Cold.

Temperatures are the most reliable forecast parameter looking out for more than seven days, and if this pattern occurs, we will spend the entire December 25 in the teens.

Plus, it looks like we can see strong winds, which could cause chills in single digits. Chances are that we will see snow showers with added effect on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but whether it will be enough to qualify as a White Christmas (2.5 cm by 7 a.m. on December 25) remains to be seen always in the air.

Follow the radar:

• Michigan weather radar page
• Metro Detroit weather radar page