A quiet but chilly Sunday night will ease Metro Detroit into a busy holiday week that features rain, a sharp temperature drop and possible snow showers just in time for America’s Thanksgiving Parade on Thursday.
Sunday Night: Chilly and quiet
Skies stay mostly clear overnight with lows dropping to around 30 degrees in Metro Detroit. Roads remain dry, but anyone heading out late will want hats, gloves and a warm coat to handle wind chills dipping into the 20s.
Monday: Dry and comfortable for holiday prep
Monday will be one of the best days of the week for shopping, errands and travel. Expect mainly clouds and some sun with highs near 50 to 52 degrees south of I-96, and upper-40s to 50 degrees in the Thumb. Winds stay light, so this is the day to rake leaves, put up outdoor decorations and load up on Thanksgiving groceries — without weather getting in the way. Rain does not arrive until very late Monday night.
Tuesday: Showers and travel slowdowns
Rain showers move in overnight Monday and continue into the day Tuesday. Expect cloudy skies with highs in the lower- to mid-50s across Metro Detroit and upper-40s to near 50 degrees farther north. Wet roads could slow morning and midday travel, especially near Ann Arbor, Monroe, Detroit Metro Airport and along I-94. Rain amounts appear light to moderate, but drivers should expect reduced visibility and slick spots.
Wednesday: Cooler with spotty rain and snow
Another round of scattered showers is possible Wednesday — mainly rain during the day, with the chance of a mix or brief snow north of M-59. Highs fall into the upper-40s. While most of the day will be dry, travelers should stay alert, especially those in Flint, Lansing or the Thumb, where colder air and lake-enhanced moisture could bring intermittent snow showers.
Thanksgiving Day: Cold, windy and possible snow showers at the parade
Thanksgiving morning will feel like winter in Downtown Detroit. It will be a homely welcome for Santa. The parade begins at 8:45 a.m. along Woodward Avenue with temperatures around 30 degrees, but wind chills will drop into the upper-teens to lower-20s. Lake-effect snow showers could accompany breezy northwest winds. Highs will only reach the mid-30s, and the wind will make it feel colder most of the day.
Anyone attending the parade should plan for hats, gloves, layers and wind-blocking coats. Warm boots will make a big difference for those standing along the route.
Black Friday: Cold, dry shopping weather
Friday remains cold with highs in the mid-30s, but morning shoppers will face early morning lows in the 20s. Roads stay dry, making this one of the better days for holiday travel and shopping trips.
National forecast impacts
Across the country, a broad wave of cooler air spreads east through Wednesday, but storm systems appear limited early in the week. Light rain may slow travel in parts of the Midwest and East Coast Tuesday and Wednesday, while lake-effect snow bands could impact northern Ohio, western New York and Michigan’s snowbelt communities on Thanksgiving morning.
Air travel could experience delays in wetter regions Tuesday, especially Chicago, Pittsburgh, Boston and New York. Dry weather in the western U.S. should provide smoother flying conditions.
Bottom Line
- Best weather for errands, decorating, and travel: Monday and Black Friday
- Wettest travel day locally: Tuesday
- Mornings with most inconvenient weather: Tuesday (with rain) and Thanksgiving (due to wind chills in the teens and 20s and possible snow showers)
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