System behaved itself with generally light amounts of snow and sleet reported over northern areas of Southeast Lower Michigan; and a bit of snow with more sleet and freezing rain central and southern areas. Most of the freezing rain was over central areas of the region with ice totals remaining below a 1/4".
http://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=DTX&issuedby=DTX&product=LSR&format=CI&version=2&glossary=0
http://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=DTX&issuedby=DTX&product=LSR&format=CI&version=1&glossary=0
blog:
At this time, it looks as though central and northern Southeast Lower Michigan...or a line roughly from north of Ann Arbor into Detroit's northern suburbs and areas northward...could see the longest period of mixed precipitation before the changeover. While light amounts of snow, sleet and freezing rain are expected, the sleet and freezing rain will be most problematic with ice amounts less than 1/4" in freezing rain areas.
Initial blog below:
Look for weather conditions to deteriorate after midnight during the early morning hours of Wednesday /29th/ as strong warm air advection aloft pushes into Southern Lower Michigan. This increasingly moisture-laden warmer air will trigger snow, then sleet and freezing rain as it rides over the colder air at and just above the ground. The storm center bringing the snow, sleet and freezing rain will move west of the region over southern Minnesota but will act as a pin-wheel; advecting the warmer, moist air into the region from the south. Blizzard conditions are expected out over the Upper Midwest with heavy snow into the Northern Lakes with this storm.
Much of the mixed precipitation should fall from the early morning hours into the forenoon hours of Wednesday as it moves in from the south and works its was north. The mixed precipitation will change to light rain, drizzle with just cloudy conditions thereafter in the afternoon. In addition, a moderate east to southeast wind will accompany the event. While there will be strong warmer air riding aloft; indications are the colder air near the surface will begrudgingly give way over portions of Southeast Lower Michigan. At this time, it looks as though central and northern Southeast Lower Michigan...or a line roughly from north of Ann Arbor into Detroit's northern suburbs and areas northward...could see the longest period of mixed precipitation before the changeover. While light amounts of snow, sleet and freezing rain are expected, the sleet and freezing rain will be most problematic with ice amounts less than 1/4" in freezing rain areas. However; this is subject to change if more moisture works in or change-over is delayed.
A sharp temperature-gradient will form over Southeast Lower Michigan on Wednesday with readings rising into at least the 40s behind the surface warm front, while hovering in the lower to mid 30s ahead of it. Look for the warmer air to overtake the entire region during the after as readings rise into the 40s, to around 50 in the south. Then; look for colder air and snow showers to move back into the region Wednesday night.
Motorists be advised driving conditions will deteriorate rapidly as the mixed precipitation encompasses Southeast Lower Michigan during the early morning hours while temperatures are at/or below freezing.
Making weather fun while we all learn,
Bill Deedler -SEMI_WeatherHistorian
Bill Deedler -SEMI_WeatherHistorian
