After record snowfall, arctic air hits Metro Detroit

James David Dickson
The Detroit News

Detroit — After the snowiest Jan. 18 in Detroit's history, with 6.8 inches recorded at Detroit Metro Airport, the region moves to a cold stage.

Much of southeast Michigan dipped into the low teens overnight. A high only of 25 is expected Monday, when Metro Detroit schools close and many students fan out into their communities for outdoor activities and other events to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

A low of 14 was expected Monday night.

Tuesday's temperature was expected to rise to 30 during the day, with a low of 20 at night. Wednesday will see 34 degrees and a low of 27.

Flood warnings remain for the Huron River near Hamburg. At 8 p.m. Sunday, the river was at 6.6 feet and steady and expected to drop below flood stage by Monday, the National Weather Service said. Flood stage is 6.5 feet.

Snowfall Sunday added to Saturday's storm. Pinckney saw 1.3 inches of snow and an eight-hour snowfall total for Flint was 2.3 inches. Saturday's snowfall dwarfed the high for that date in Detroit, 5.2 inches in 1892. Sunday morning started with a "dusting" of snow in some areas, including downtown Detroit.

Detroit sees 12.5 inches of snow in January on average so it got more than half of that in just one day. 

Sara Filthaut, left, of Huntington Woods builds a snowman with her daughter Brooklyn on their front yard along Lincoln Street in Huntington Woods on Saturday, January 18, 2020.

"Cold is to be expected at this time of year," Freitag said, noting that the average high in January only reaches 32 degrees.