A Frost Advisory is in effect from 2 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday for all counties except Sanilac County, and a Freeze Watch will follow from 11 p.m. Sunday to 11 a.m. Monday for the same area. Temperatures are expected to slide into the mid-30s overnight tonight into Sunday morning before dropping into the mid to upper 20s Sunday night into Monday morning.
The cold snap means frost and freeze conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation, and could also damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. Bryan said people should cover outdoor plants or bring them inside, a warning that takes on added weight as the region braces for a widespread freeze Sunday night.
Saturday night is forecast to be partly cloudy and colder, with a low of 35 and patchy frost anticipated overnight into Sunday morning. Sunday should bring sunshine in the morning, partly cloudy skies and a chance of rain showers mainly in the afternoon, with a high of 49. Sunday night is forecast to be mainly clear and cold with a low of 27, and the forecast says overnight lows could fall into the upper 20s in the city, with some mid-20s and possibly lower-20s readings outside the metro.
The timing leaves little room for crops, gardeners or homeowners to prepare twice in a two-night stretch. The first advisory covers most of the region early Sunday, then the more serious freeze watch arrives Sunday night as temperatures sink again, excluding only Sanilac County from both alerts.
Relief should come quickly. Highs are expected to warm into the upper 60s on Tuesday and Wednesday, then rise into the 70s on Thursday and Friday before a chance of rain showers returns late in the week.