Metro Detroit blanketed by 2-4 inches of snow

A Winter Weather advisory snowfall had people breaking out shovels and brushing off their cars Tuesday morning.

Tuesday morning is proving to be a slow-moving commute for Metro Detroiters, as snowfall slowed traffic and caused sporadic accidents on the freeways. The advisory expires at noon, and snow may fall through early afternoon.

The high Tuesday will be 35 degrees, said Sara Schultz, a National Weather Service meteorologist. Another meteorologist, Heather Orow, told The News that about 3 inches of snow would fall in Metro Detroit.

Metro Airport in Romulus saw about 4.3 inches of snow. Ann Arbor had 3.6 inches. Oakland County up to the Flint area averaged about 2.3 inches, and Brighton had about 2.7, Schultz said.

A hazardous weather outlook in effect for southeast Michigan calls the storm a "clipper system" concentrating on the areas between M-59 and Interstate 94. Motorists are advised to be on the lookout for snow squalls and snow showers on Tuesday.

The snow should stick around as daytime temperatures hover near or below freezing this week.

"Tuesday we're looking at a high of around 35," Orow said

Schultz said Wednesday's high should also be about 35, but that temperatures would plummet overnight to about 18 degrees. The rest of the week should bring high temperatures in the low to mid 20s.

Extended forecast

Monday afternoon: Chance of flurries. Cloudy, with a high near 27.

Monday night: Chance of flurries before 8 p.m., then snow. Low around 22. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New snow accumulation of around 2 inches.

Tuesday: Snow, mainly before 2 p.m. High near 35. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Tuesday night: Chance of snow before 2 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 26. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31.

Wednesday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 21.

Thursday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 9.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 22.

Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 12.