Snow marches in, with burst of frigid air close behind

Detroit — After two days with snow in the forecast and a day of arctic cold, Metro Detroit should return to its warmer-than-normal ways for February for the weekend.

More:Arctic cold sets in on Valentine's Day

Snowfall is expected to hit the area Wednesday evening, said National Weather Service meteorologist Sara Pampreen.  One to 3 inches of snow is expected in southeast Michigan by Thursday morning. One to 2 inches of additional snow is expected Thursday, with some periods of moderate to briefly heavy snowfall rates, the weather service said.

By Thursday night, temperatures will fall to single digits to near zero, with wind chills "well below zero for Friday morning."

A winter weather advisory has been issued for portions of south central and southwest Michigan. The weather service forecasts 1-4 inches with the highest amounts near and south of Interstate 94. Temperatures will fall from near 30 just before sunrise to the mid-teens by early afternoon, when wind chills will fall to near zero by midday across the area.

Snow in the south central and western part of the state will move north from I-94 to the Interstate 96 area by 11 p.m. More persistent snowfall is expected during the day Thursday. As arctic air moves in, snow will briefly become heavy with gusty winds and blowing and drifting snow. The snow will gradually end during late afternoon Thursday.

Areas north of Detroit are expected to see an inch or 2 of snow.

Thursday's high temperature is expected to reach the low-30's, just shy of the average high temperature for February, 35.2 degrees. 

But overnight into Friday morning, the arctic air arrives, dropping temperatures into the single digits.

Valentine's Day itself will be cold, with its high reaching only the 20's, Pampreen said. But the day will be dry.

Saturday, temperatures will again hit the mid-30's. Sunday's high will approach 40 degrees.