FORECAST SUMMARY: Friday, January 23, 2026 - Monday, January 26, 2026
PM-2.5: 24-hour daily average Fine Particulate concentrations will average mostly Good (Green AQI) with some Moderate (Yellow AQI) possible, mainly in the south on Sunday.
FORECAST DISCUSSION:
Michigan is currently under the coldest airmass of the season, with wind chills well below zero. These extremely cold temperatures and dangerous wind chills will persist into Saturday, accompanied by lake-effect snow in the northwest snowbelt areas.
Temperatures remain cold on Sunday but will improve slightly compared to Friday and Saturday. Attention then shifts to a large winter storm expected to bring widespread winter weather from the southern Rockies to New England Friday through Monday. The northern edge of this system will move across parts of the Lower Peninsula on Sunday.
Snowfall amounts remain uncertain, but current models suggest up to 3 inches in the southeast portion of the state. This will be important to monitor, especially for those with travel plans.
After the storm pushes east, northwest winds will return early next week, once again triggering lake-effect snow in favored areas.
The forecast period begins with Good air quality statewide, and these Good levels are expected to continue through Saturday. A brief period of lighter winds on Sunday may allow for some Moderate concentrations in southern Michigan; otherwise, Good readings should persist into early next week.
EXTENDED FORECAST:
Extended forecast models indicate that systems moving in early next week will maintain lake-effect snow chances in the forecast. Air quality is expected to remain in the Good range early next week.
Next Forecast update: Monday, January 26, 2026