Mild temperatures return before major cooling next week

DETROIT – Our forecast is a little more active as we head towards the Christmas holidays. Expect a slightly softer stretch and then significant cooling by the end of next week.

The snow ends Wednesday evening, leaving very little behind.

We will see some more snow showers in the areas on Thursday, but less than we saw on Wednesday. No accumulation is expected.

Chances are back on Saturday afternoon, after a few showers. It also looks like it will leave a minimal buildup, if any. As we move forward in these possibilities, temperatures will become slightly milder.

Normal highs occur in the mid-1930s, and for the second day in a row, Wednesday, we were unable to get there.

Thursday will bring a couple more degrees, but the day will still be a lower-than-normal end.

The top 30s arrive on Friday. Then we’ll finally touch 40 degrees on both weekends. Highs will remain around 40 degrees for the first half of next week, and then the big chill will begin as Santa’s sleigh approaches.

Now Christmas is less than ten days away. Viouslybviamente, so far, we can not limit the exact number and time. But the overall pattern is showing a good deal among our range of long-range models: Cold.

Temperatures are the most reliable forecast parameter more than seven days ago, and if this pattern occurs, we will pass all of December 25 to teens.

Also, it looks like we could see strong winds, which would put the chills in a single digit. There is a good chance of seeing some snowdrops lake effects on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but if that will be enough to qualify as White Christmas (1 inch until 7am December), is still up in the air.

Track radar:

• Michigan Weather Radar page
• Metro Detroit weather radar page