Tracking the last 2 storms of 2020

DETROIT – Apart from some gusts, Saturday was a benign weather day and Sunday looks the same – then comes the first of two storms to end this crazy year.

High pressure shifting east south of Michigan should turn the wind more southwest (even southeast late Saturday night), so the loss of the Lake Michigan lake effect trajectory allows for temporary, partial clean-up. Lows will be around 20 degrees, but maybe a few degrees cooler if we get more clarification than expected.

Sunset was at 5:07 PM on Saturday. Sunday sunrise is at 8:01 am

Even if some of us wake up early Sunday morning with a bit of partial sun, the day should get cloudy but milder, with temperatures rising to the mid-30s in the afternoon and then continuing to rise to nearly 40 degrees in the evening after the passage of a warm front (the front of a warmer air mass). There is a chance of some showers on Sunday late afternoon, but I think most of the rain will linger until Sunday evening.

Rain showers increase on Sunday evening as a cold front approaches, followed by some snow showers (no accumulation) after the front passes. Temperatures that are initially stable near 40 degrees will fall in the low to mid 30s at dawn on Monday.

Monday will be mostly cloudy with scattered snow showers, and it will also be a rough, windy day. Temperatures will slowly drop into the low 30 degrees by late afternoon. Watch for icy spots when the temperature is freezing.

Tuesdays will be mostly sunny, with high temperatures in the upper 20s and light winds – this is bound to be the nicest day of the week ahead and a good day to support our local stores by shopping for their post-Christmas sales!

Wednesday will be cloudy and windy and rain late afternoon or Wednesday evening. The high tones bounce back to almost 40 degrees. Rain increases on Wednesday evenings and continues through Thursday and Thursday evenings, New Years Eve. This will be a long-lasting rain event, with more than an inch possible. Since the ground surface is now frozen, this water just runs off; flooding will be a concern if too much falls in too short a time. I’ll of course keep you updated on Local 4 and in my daily weather articles. Thursday’s highlights will be in the low to mid 40s.

As it stands now, we can start with rain on the first day of 2021 and then see rain turn to snow. We are not sure about accumulation yet, because it is far too far in advance to try to get specific, but accumulation is possible anyway. Stay tuned. Temperatures will drop on Fridays into the 1930s and 1920s.

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