DDN – Bitterly cold air is moving into Southeast Michigan. Wind chills are likely to be severe until at least lunchtime on Wednesday.
The arctic air has prompted a Cold Weather Advisory for all of Southeast Michigan from midnight Monday (morning) until noon Wednesday. During this winter period, Southeast Michigan may experience wind chills as low as -25 degrees.
The Cold Weather Advisory supersedes the National Weather Service’s previous Wind Chill Advisory. Wind chills of -20 degrees can cause frostbite on exposed skin in 30 minutes.
Due to the onset of this extreme cold, a 4Warn Weather Alert has been issued for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
How to Stay Safe
Precautions should be taken to ensure safety. Dress warmly, with several layers, gloves, and a cap. People should strive to spend less time outside and bring pets inside.
Consider keeping emergency supplies in the vehicle, such as a flashlight, phone charger, portable power bank, first aid kit, blankets, snacks, and a bottle or jug of water (which must be used or changed periodically to avoid freezing).
Sunday Night: Expect largely cloudy skies with occasional breaks. Lows will vary from zero to five. Wind chills will drop as low as -10 degrees in Metro Detroit and -20 degrees in the Thumb. Westerly winds will reach 8 to 15 mph, with gusts up to 20 mph.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Inauguration Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be partly cloudy to mostly gloomy, with very cold temperatures. A few lake-effect snow showers will develop in the afternoon and continue into the evening.
Monday’s temperatures will be in the single digits for the majority of the day. High temperatures will be about 10 degrees, while wind chills will be below zero. Dress for wind chills ranging from -20 to -5 degrees in Southeast Michigan. Winds will be from the west-southwest at 10 to 18 mph, with gusts reaching 25 mph.
While lows will range from -5 to 0 degrees, wind chills in certain Southeast Michigan municipalities could reach -25 degrees (or 25 degrees below zero) on Monday night and Tuesday morning.
Tuesday
Expect a mix of sunshine and clouds on Tuesday, with highs in the single digits. Low temperatures will be about -5 (5 degrees below zero). Metro Detroit’s record low for the date is -21 degrees, set on January 21, 1984. The average high is 32 degrees, with an average low of 18 degrees.
Wednesday
Following a brutally cold morning, Wednesday will see some improvement as a warm front moves across the region. Temperatures will peak in the teens. The sky will be partly to mainly cloudy. Low temperatures will decrease to around 10 degrees.
Late Week
Milder air will continue to move into Southeast Michigan until the end of the week.
Metro Detroit will experience highs in the mid-20s and lows in the teens on Thursday and Friday, with snow showers likely.
The weather will be largely gloomy next weekend, with highs in the upper 20s and lower 30s. There is a prospect of temperatures rising above freezing, which would be the first in a week.
Reference: Wind chills as low as -25 possible in Metro Detroit with polar vortex
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