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Weather officials warn Michigan residents of Arctic air that will cause temperatures to plunge statewide Thursday night, Dec. 4, into Friday morning, Dec. 5, and create dangerously cold wind chills of minus 10 degrees in some areas.
“Yet another cold front passage will bring some brutally cold low temperatures to portions of the Midwest this morning, and then into the northern Mid-Atlantic and New England Friday morning (Dec. 5),” the National Weather Service said on Dec. 4. “Low temperatures in the negative single digits and teens for the Midwest and single digits and teens for the northern Mid-Atlantic/New England may challenge several daily record low temperatures.”
In the Upper Peninsula, air temperatures will reach single digits and wind chill values (what the temperature “feels like”) will fall to the single digits and below zero.
In the Lower Peninsula, air temperatures also will fall to single digits in some areas. Wind chill values will be in the single digits to below zero.
More: A triple-dip Polar vortex is coming. Will your state feel the chill?
“The coldest night of the season so far is ahead with lows near zero degrees Friday morning (Dec. 5),” the Northern Indiana NWS office said on X on Dec. 4. “Remember to protect the 4 P’s: People, pets, pipes, and plants. Check in on those who may be vulnerable to the cold. Expose indoor pipes to heated air and drip water if necessary.”
Weather officials say the cold plunge could result in records across Michigan this week.
In addition to the below freezing temperatures, the eastern UP remains under a winter storm warning and advisory for lake-effect snow expected to slow down Thursday afternoon, Dec. 4. So far, 3.5 inches of snow have accumulated today, Dec. 4, in Sault Ste Marie and 4.2 inches in Donaldson (south of Sault Ste. Marie), according to the NWS’s snowfall reports. Freezing spray warnings are in place for Lake Superior and gale warnings have been issued for the Great Lakes.
Here’s the National Weather Service’s temperature forecast for Michigan:
How cold will it get in the Upper Peninsula tonight?
Here are the temperature lows for the UP on Dec. 4:
- Sault Ste. Marie: 12-23 degrees; wind chill of 3 degrees
- Ironwood: 13 degrees; wind chill of minus 10 degrees to zero.
- Marquette: 13 degrees; wind chill of minus 5 to 5 degrees.
- Newberry: 20 degrees; wind chill of 1 degree.
- Escanaba: 12 degrees; wind chill of minus 5 to zero.
- Copper Harbor: 17-20 degrees; wind chill of zero to 10 degrees.
- Munising: 12 degrees; wind chill of minus 5 to zero.
- Ontonagon: 21 degrees; wind chill of zero to 5 degrees.
- Grand Marais: 14 degrees; wind chill of zero to 5 degrees.
How low will the wind chill be in northern Michigan?
Here are the temperature lows for northern Michigan on Dec. 4:
- Cheboygan: 17 degrees; wind chill of 1 degree.
- Gaylord: 11 degrees; wind chill of minus 3.
- Alpena: 16 degrees; wind chill of 2 degrees.
- Traverse City: 16 degrees; wind chill of 3 degrees.
- Manistee: 18 degrees; wind chill of 5 degrees.
- Cadillac: 8 degrees; wind chill of minus 5.
- Tawas City: 8 degrees; wind chill of minus 5.
What’s forecast for Grand Rapids, southwest Michigan?
Here are the temperature lows for southwest Michigan on Dec. 4:
- Grand Rapids: 11 degrees; wind chill of minus 1.
- Muskegon: 17 degrees; wind chill of 6 degrees.
- Benton Harbor: 11-15 degrees; wind value of 4 degrees.
- Battle Creek: 4 degrees; wind chill of minus 7.
- Coldwater: 2 degrees; wind chill of minus 10.
What’s wind chill?: Frigid weather, wind chills heading to Michigan. Is it safe for kids?
How chilly will it get in Detroit, southeast Michigan?
Here are the temperature lows for southeast Michigan on Dec. 4:
- Detroit: 11-12 degrees; wind chill of 6 degrees.
- Ann Arbor: 4 degrees; wind chill of minus 4.
- Port Sanilac: 12 degrees; wind chill of minus 3.
- Saginaw: 8 degrees; wind chill of minus 3.
- Midland: 9 degrees; wind chill of minus 2.
- Cass City: 6 degrees; wind chill of minus 6.
- Monroe: 7 degrees; wind chill of minus 1.
Will Lansing see below-zero temperatures tonight?
Here are the temperature lows for mid-Michigan on Dec. 4:
- Lansing: 7 degrees; wind chill of minus 4.
- Ionia: 7 degrees; wind chill of minus 5.
- St. Johns: 7 degrees; wind chill of minus 6.
- Eaton Rapids: 4 degrees; wind chill of minus 8.
- Owosso: 8 degrees; wind chill of minus 4.
- Carson City: 6 degrees; wind chill vlue of minus 7.
- Mt. Pleasant: 8 degrees; wind chill of minus 4.
The wind chill conversion chart
Here’s the National Weather Service’s wind chill chart showing how quickly frostbite can set in with different temperature and wind combinations.
Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com
