More Arctic air is on the way this week, but many of us want to know if it will persist through Christmas. As one bitterly cold blast of Arctic air pushes out of the region, another surge of frigid air is already set to move back in. We will experience a bit of a break from the really cold air this weekend. However, another surge of unseasonably cold air driven by the breakdown of the polar vortex will likely expand from central Canada through the Midwest and move into the eastern United States again by early next week. And, to make matters worse, this next blast is the first of more cold spells that may linger through the middle of December.

Polar vortexes are not something new. However, the term polar vortex has only recently been popularized but has always been present. It is a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding both the Earths poles. It always exists near the poles but weakens in the summer and strengthens in the winter. When a storm is strong, it tends to keep the coldest air locked up over the pole. However, many times during the winter, the polar vortex will expand or stretch sending frigid air southward through Canada and over the United States. This sets the stage for those large outbreaks of Arctic air that may persist for days. We have been in this pattern since late November. This shift in the Polar Vortex is creating more opportunities for below-average temperatures to continue over the Great Lakes, which may continue in waves for another couple of weeks.

Along with these waves of Arctic air will come a parade of quick hitting Alberta Clippers.

These systems will line up bringing the potential for accumulating snow across much of Michigan on Tuesday and a wintry mix possible on Wednesday. The arctic air will seep back into the region likely triggering bands of lake-effect snow on Thursday. The last Clipper of this series will bring another chance for snow to wrap up the week on Friday.

This wintry pattern is expected to continue bringing rounds of snow chances through mid-month. There is some indication that the Arctic air may finally ease its grip on the state by the week of Christmas.

The biggest travel week is upon us and the weather across Metro Detroit will range from mild and wet earlier in the week to cold and wintry to wrap up the holiday. 

The first storm system will bring a chance for light-to-moderate rain showers across the area throughout the day Tuesday.  However, temperatures will remain on the mild side for late November with highs in the low 50s. 

 

A second front will sweep through the area on Wednesday with another round of rain trying to scoot through Metro Detroit.  This time it will trigger strong winds and much colder weather with temperatures tumbling throughout the day.

Youll definitely need to bundle up on Thanksgiving!  The blast of frigid air settles in for the holiday and sticks around for the weekend.  Morning lows will start in the 20s and afternoon temperatures will only rise into the 30s.  There will be a biting wind chill in the teens and 20s.  This winter-like chill will ignite the lake-effect machine across the Great Lakes, including Metro Detroit.  If youre traveling across Michigan on Thanksgiving Day, youll need to watch for slick and snowy road conditions through the heavier snow belt areas, like northwest Lower Michigan, the U.P. and the southwest portions of Lower Michigan. It looks like we may catch a brief break from the snow across Metro Detroit on Friday, but the typical Michigan snow belts will likely see more lake effect to finish the week.

 

Well keep an eye on next weekend for another potential storm system moving through Lower Michigan.  Its still a bit far away but be on alert for a hit of wintry weather, which could lead to messy travel after Thanksgiving with snow developing next Saturday changing to a wintry mix to close out the weekend. 

 

The Climate Prediction Center has consistently displayed an upcoming atmospheric pattern shift bringing this winter-like weather across Metro Detroit.Again, the initial taste of arctic air filtering in midweek and maintaining its cold grip on the region into, at least, early December.   

The biggest travel week of the year is still over a week away, but were already looking ahead because we know it typically doesnt arrive without some weather disruptions. If youre getting an early start on your holiday travel this week, a storm system will brush by bringing a rain and snow mix to Metro Detroit by Tuesday afternoon and evening. This system doesn't look too strong and shouldn't interfere much with local travel.

However, our weather pattern becomes more active with a potentially stronger storm system bringing a wet and wind-packed finish to the week, which could slow down travel across Metro Detroit Thursday afternoon through Friday.

If youre traveling the week of Thanksgiving, you may be dealing with more disruptions across parts of the nation.While its still a bit early to really dive into weather specifics, we can look at model trends moving forward into the holiday.A stormy pattern may be shaping up out west and for parts the deep south, snow and rain chances in the upper Midwest and Great Lakes with the calmest weather down south, especially for those traveling to Florida for the week of Thanksgiving.

The main storm system to watch is a trough entering the Rockies and moving into the Plain states the beginning Thanksgiving week.This system will tap into Gulf moisture and introduce warmer air surging north colliding with colder air aloft. This will help initiate rain and storms for the Plains and trigger snow chances to the north.Snow could delay and disrupt travel from Denver to Minneapolis as the storm track continues through the northern plains and in the Midwest.

The Northeast and the south could see some trouble with wind, rain and mixed precipitation the Saturday after Thanksgiving when many people are heading back home after the Thanksgiving holiday.