• Southeast Michigan could be hit by two big snow storms this week.
• Four to eight inches of snow is forecast to start Wednesday.
• Dangerous cold also is forecast, a concern for those without shelter.

The one big snowfall that Michigan usually gets each year is coming.

And, weather watchers say, there even could be two snowstorms by the end of the week.

The National Weather Service expanded its winter storm watch by four counties overnight Tuesday to include all of southeast Michigan, as it gets closer to Wednesday afternoon when 4-8 inches of snow is forecast to start coming down.

In addition, single-digit low temperatures are a concern.

In some areas, especially in the southernmost counties — Wayne, Washtenaw, Monroe and Lenawee — where the temperatures could be a few degrees warmer, the weather service said there also could be a dangerous mix of freezing rain, sleet and ice.

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“We generally get one snowfall event — widespread like this in the 6-8 inch range — per winter,” said Dave Kook, a weather service meteorologist in White Lake Township, referring to metro Detroit.

Further north, he acknowledged, Michiganders can get more snow — sometimes a foot or two at a time — but, that is a result of a different weather pattern, “lake effect snow,” generated by cold dry air passing over warmer water.

On top of that, another storm system is expected to come through Saturday.

If you drive, be careful

Wednesday’s storm watch, the weather service said, covered a 17-county area that included: Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Monroe and Lenawee, Livingston, St. Clair, Lapeer, Genesee, Shiawassee, Sanilac, Tuscola, Saginaw, Huron, Bay and Midland.

Some residents, however, commented on social media with skepticism (“I won’t believe it until it happens”), humor (“Nothing like getting all of winter in the month of February!”) and perhaps real or sarcastic glee (“I’d really like to build a snowman.”

A few people also said they had trouble finding ice melt products in stores, and news outlets in other states — New York and Maryland ― and reported recent shortages, recommending extra caution on sidewalks.

The weather service also urged caution and vigilance.

“Keep watching the forecast for any tweaks and adjustments,” Kook urged. “We’ll keep refining the reports as new information comes in to give people the most accurate forecast we can.”

What’s more, AAA also issued a different warning, noting that research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found pedestrian fatalities have risen more than 80% since reaching a historic low in 2009.

That added to the concerns, especially during Thursday’s commute.

Early risers who try to clear sidewalks and driveways of snow and ice may be especially vulnerable. Most of the fatalities, the auto club said, occurred when it was dark out on urban roads, particularly in disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Homeless are at risk

Monday, two children — a 2-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy — died in a van in a downtown Detroit casino parking structure. The children, police said, appeared to have frozen to death, possibly while they slept.

A medical examination is expected to determine the cause of death.

Three other children who reportedly also had been inside the same van were hospitalized. It was unclear from reports exactly why the children were in the vehicle. But homelessness throughout Michigan is a problem, especially in winter.

The City of Detroit website urged residents experiencing a housing crisis or needing emergency shelter to call 866-313-2520. Those sleeping outside may be able to get help by completing a homeless outreach request online.

According to the 2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report to Congress, which was released in December, the number of people experiencing homelessness nationwide on a single night in 2024 was the highest ever recorded.

More than 770,000 people — or about 23 of every 10,000 in the United States —experienced homelessness in an emergency shelter, transitional housing program, or in an unsheltered location, and some experts believe that the number may be even higher.

The federal report concluded several factors contributed to the high number, including a worsening national affordable housing crisis, rising inflation, stagnating wages among middle- and lower-income households, and the persisting effects of systemic racism.

Other concerns, the report said, that also many have contributed included a public health crisis, natural disasters, rising numbers of people immigrating to the U.S., and the end to homelessness prevention programs put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or [email protected].