Bundle Up! Michigan Set for a Post-Thanksgiving Deep Freeze

After several weeks of milder than usual temperatures, much of Michigan can expect a cold slap back to reality in the days to come after Thanksgiving.

Forecasters agree that most of the Mitten State is in for the coldest weather it's seen so far this season, although exactly how cold - and for how long - remains up for debate.

RELATED: 10 Items Not to Leave in Your Car When It's Freezing in Michigan

Another area of agreement: any precipitation that falls during the extended cold snap to come would likely be snow.

How Cold Is It Going to Get in Michigan After Thanksgiving?

Beginning on Black Friday, most of Michigan can expect high temperatures in the mid 20s to low 30s for several days. Overnight lows will dip into the upper teens to mid 20s. Not climbing above freezing for several days in a row will allow ice to begin to form on some bodies of water, although it won't be safe enough to walk on for quite a while.

If current forecasting trends hold true, the Lansing area can expect the coldest weather it's seen since right after last Valentine's Day:

Highs in the 20s will carry us through the weekend and most of the following week, with lows near 20° and occasionally dipping into the teens. My forecast high of 28° on Saturday would make it the coldest day for our area since mid-February!

 

~ WILX News 10 Meteorologist Justin Bradford

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Predictions from the National Weather Service are in line with what WILX is forecasting.

AccuWeather predicts the sub-freezing cold snap could last into mid-December, with temperatures in the mid 30s to near 40 not seen again until the week before Christmas.

When Is It Going to Snow in Michigan?

Forecasters in Michigan expect some snow to fall during the extended post-Thanksgiving cold snap, but at the current time, no major storms are expected. Any snow that does fall is likely to stick around for awhile though, as temperatures won't warm up enough to allow for much (if any) melting.

A word to the wise, however - it's Michigan. Forecasts are best guesses based on the information available at any given time. Actual results can and will vary.