Metro Detroit is making its way through a mild and mostly pleasant weekend before a chilly Thanksgiving week takes hold. Next week will bring rain for travelers, a wintry chill for parade-goers, and a cold setup for Black Friday shoppers. For now, Sunday delivers sunshine and comfortable temperatures — a perfect chance to enjoy outdoor chores or grab a latte and take in a little fresh air before the holiday rush begins.
Saturday
Before we get there, Saturday night will feel chilly but inviting for a night out. Temperatures will fall into the lower- to mid-30s with mostly cloudy skies. That makes it a good evening to lace up your skates at The Rink at Campus Martius Park, grab a hot chocolate and snap pictures under the 66-foot Norway spruce at the center of the park. A warm coat and gloves will be more than enough to stay comfortable outdoors while enjoying the holiday atmosphere.
Sunday
Sunday will be the best day of the weekend to rake the leaves or finish outdoor decorating, with highs climbing to around 50 degrees. Under mostly sunny skies, winds out of the west-northwest at 10 to 15 mph and gusts up to 25 mph could make it too breezy for getting on a ladder at times. Neighbors’ leaves might end up on your lawn.
With so many people preparing for gatherings later next week, Sunday will also be a good day to do grocery shopping. Anyone planning to visit their favorite grocery store before the crowds hit midweek will appreciate the mild weather compared with what awaits. Monday stays dry and around 50 degrees, but clouds will increase through the day.
Monday and Tuesday
Changes begin late Monday night as rain develops and lingers into Tuesday. The steadiest rain arrives just in time for the morning commute and may slow down travel. Roads will be wet early and visibility may become an issue in spots. Minor delays are possible for travelers heading to major Midwest destinations such as Chicago, Cleveland and Minneapolis, where the same system will be pushing through. Rain will taper Tuesday afternoon, but clouds remain thick and temperatures will stay in the 50s.
Wednesday
Wednesday will be cooler with highs in the mid-40s and a couple of rain or snow showers. These will be brief, however, and most of Wednesday remains dry, making it a reasonable travel day with fewer weather delays expected nationwide. The Northeast will dry out from Tuesday’s rain, while the Southeast and West Coast may begin to see their next storm systems forming. Anyone driving long distances Wednesday should have mostly good conditions across the country, but temperatures will be turning colder in the Midwest and Great Lakes.
Thursday
Thanksgiving Day turns sharply colder in Metro Detroit with highs only reaching the mid- to upper-30s. A breeze will make it feel even chillier for spectators along Woodward Avenue for America’s Thanksgiving Parade. Wind chills in the morning will dip into the lower- to mid-20s, especially while crowds are waiting before and during the 8:45 a.m. start. Parade-goers will need hats, gloves and warm layers to handle the cold air between buildings downtown. Any flurries would stay brief and spotty, but the bigger story will simply be the chill.
Friday and the weekend
Black Friday stays cold as highs reach the mid-30s. For shoppers lining up before sunrise, temperatures will be deep into the 20s — cold enough to make winter layers a must if you are waiting outside for deals. Roads will be dry locally, so travel will not be messy, just frigid. Across the rest of the country, travelers heading home may encounter snow in parts of the Rockies and northern Plains, while rain could develop again in the Pacific Northwest. Airports in Denver and Salt Lake City may see weather-related slowdowns Saturday and Sunday.
Overall, Metro Detroit gets a bit of everything in the coming week: sunshine to prepare, potential of rain to travel through, flurries, and a full dose of Thanksgiving chill.
Show us the skies in your neighborhood, or show us how you are ushering in the holiday season. Submit photos to Local 4 at MIPics.