Detroit may see first snowflakes this week, will surpass record for latest

Detroit might get its first snowflakes of the season this week. But while temperatures will dip to create that possibility, the area isn’t currently expected to get its first freeze of the season yet. That’s notable because whenever the first freeze arrives, it will be the latest a first freeze has been documented in 150 years at the official Detroit area recording site.

The record is currently Nov. 15, said Trent Frey, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in White Lake. That was hit in both 1915 and 1946.

This year, most areas of southeast Michigan already have gotten a freeze – hitting 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower – but the Detroit Metropolitan Airport recording site in Romulus has not, said Frey. Neither has Detroit City Airport.

“We can’t attribute it to anything, but it is a fact that our seasons are warming … so it could be a product of climate change,” Frey said of the first freeze record. “It’s certainly not something that we’ve seen in our period of record of over 150 years. … So, it’s definitely not common for us to not see freezing temperatures this far in the year.”

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Detroit Metro Airport is the official recording site for the area, but that official spot has changed during the 150-year recording period. Official data was taken from various sites in downtown Detroit until 1934, then Detroit City Airport, then Detroit Metro Airport starting in 1966, Frey said. The moves are meant to account for the urban heat island effect in the city and to ensure that the information is the most representative of the area.

Temperatures are expected to be in the mid- to upper 50s on Monday with mostly sunny skies before a chance of rain pops up in the evening, Frey said. Tuesday is expected to be a drizzly day in metro Detroit but temperatures will remain fairly similar until Thursday.

Thursday and Friday could bring those snowflakes, with the most likely day being Thursday, said Frey. He noted there are some moving parts, however.

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Temperatures are currently expected to drop Thursday and Friday with highs in the 40s and lows in the mid-30s.

“It’ll definitely be a shock for some folks,” said Frey, confirming it’ll be time for some heavier coats and jackets to come out.

Depending on where the cold air comes and low-pressure systems, the precipitation could be snow or rain, said Frey. Accumulation is not expected if it is snow.

Currently, highs for the weekend are expected to be in the 40s, with highs in the upper 40s come next week and overall a chance for more mild temperatures again. That can happen this time of year, Frey noted.

But for later this week, he said: “It’ll be kind of our first taste of late fall – actual late fall – weather because we’ve been pretty mild lately.”

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit set to break weather record for latest first freeze

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