Snow coming to Detroit: How much we'll see and how long it sticks around

DETROIT (FOX 2) - We're officially less than a week to Christmas and Hanukkah and just two days from the winter solstice. In other words, winter is no longer coming; winter is here.

Another Canadian clipper is moving into Michigan and the Detroit area – bringing a bit of snow for almost everyone in the state.

When will snow start in Detroit?

Snow arrives in northern Michigan on Thursday but we won't see it start to fall in Metro Detroit until Friday morning.

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Starting around 2 a.m., almost everyone in Metro Detroit will be seeing snow falling. That's going to continue throughout the morning until 8 or 9 a.m.

How much snow will we get?

You won't need a snowblower. At least, for most of us in Metro Detroit and southeast Michigan, this is going to be an inch or two. The farther north you go, the more snow you'll see.

Here's how much snow we'll see:

• Port Huron 3.0 in.
• Mount Clemens 2.8"
• Lapeer: 2.8 in.
• Ionia 2.5 in.
• Flint: 2.3 in.
• Pontiac 2.4 in.
• Lansing 1.9 in.
• Detroit: 1.8 in.
• Ann Arbor: 1.8 in.
• Jackson: 1.1 in.
• Albion 1.0 in.
• Adrian .4 in.
• Monroe .4 in.

Snowday calculator: Will Michigan schools be canceled on Friday?

Unless you're farther north, leave the snowblower in the garage. This should be an easy one to clear.

When will the snow stop?

The snow will begin to taper off around 8 or 9 a.m. but we'll see snow pretty much all day off-and-on and it will eventually end before the drive home on Friday.

How long will the snow stay?

Once the snow is done falling, the temperatures will stay below freezing for the next couple of days. 

We expect to stay in the 20s throughout the weekend and more snow is expected early next week.

By the time we get to Christmas, however, temperatures are going to start climbing above freezing. That doesn't mean it will all melt away – but it may not be a white Christmas this year.