Michigan Gearing Up for Another Arctic Blast

Much of the U.S. has been experiencing cold temperatures to kick off 2025, and Michigan is no exception. Of course, in the winter months, the temperatures always dip, but this winter is unique in that it's been just so frigidly cold throughout much of the country, even in areas that aren't used to getting hit with winter weather. It comes as a bit of a surprise, too, because November was quite mild throughout the country. Then, December started to get colder, and now, the U.S. is finding itself in the midst of an arctic blast. Now, Michigan is gearing up for even more cold air to move into the area, and this could be the coldest period of the season.

Michigan's temperatures have already been brutally cold the past few weeks, and that trend is looking to continue and even dip more. For the state, the 10-day weather forecast from the Weather Channel, which gives an overview of the state's weather, projects lows in the single digits starting Sunday, January 19. What's wild is that the low on Monday, January 20, is expected to actually be negative 1 degrees, and that doesn't factor in wind chill. There's really not much relief in sight, either, because the expended forecast shows lows in the teens through the end of January. So, it's good weather to listen to winter-themed music or even Christmas music after the holiday. Just remember this weather when you're upset about it being too hot in the state during the summer months.

So, why is the U.S. getting all these frigid temperatures, which are even more frigid than normal, and record-breaking winds? It's all in the weather pattern. The 2024-25 winter season is having a La Niña weather pattern, which brings much colder temperatures and more snowfall. According to the National Weather Service, a La Niña season "refers to the periodic cooling of sea-surface temperatures across the east-central equatorial Pacific."

Of course, last winter wasn't quite like this when it came to cold temperatures. Last winter, for much of the U.S., the weather was very mild and even warm. The 2023-24 winter season was warmer than normal because of its El Niño weather pattern, which according to the National Weather Service refers to "above-average sea-surface temperatures that periodically develop across the east-central equatorial Pacific," and "it represents the warm phase of the ENSO cycle." As someone who loves warm weather, I'd be happy to have an El Niño weather pattern every winter, but that just doesn't happen.

Nobody likes dealing with severe weather. But, it's part of life. Depending on where you live in the United States, you might come up against hurricanes, tornados, severe thunderstorms, blizzards and more. I've certainly had my fair share of severe weather events. Probably my most vivid memory was being in an ice storm, which knocked power out for about a week where I lived, including during Christmas. It was freezing cold, so my family and I had to go to a hotel that was out of town. Needless to say, our Christmas plans were totally different that year. So, what are some severe weather safety tips that may safe your life?

Before we get to the main tips, let's get through some basics. Stay informed when a severe weather event is approaching. It's simple but important. You don't want to be caught off guard when bad weather strikes. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather Service both have information that they provide leading up to and during a severe weather event. So, make sure to get the latest information in the case of any weather emergency. Local meteorologists also have good information, but the main alerts come from the National Weather Service.

Another mistake some people make is not taking "watches" seriously. For example, you might see that there's a severe thunderstorm watch in your area and think, oh, it's just a watch, I can go out for a walk. Don't do it. "A watch is used when the risk of a hazardous weather or hydrologic event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location or timing is still uncertain," the National Weather Service explains. We'll get more into the specifics of a watch, warning and advisory later in this story.

Let's get into some severe weather safety tips that may safe your life.

A weather advisory, watch and warning all need to be taken seriously. So, what do they mean? According to the National Weather Service, "a warning is issued when a hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, imminent or likely." A watch is where "the risk of a hazardous weather or hydrologic event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location or timing is still uncertain." Finally, an advisory means, "hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, imminent or likely."

During a severe thunderstorm, and any severe weather event, the best thing to do is stay inside and sheltered. "The best defense against thunderstorms is to stay inside a sturdy building or shelter that can protect you from deadly lightning, large hail, damaging winds, flooding rain and tornadoes," the National Weather Service says. Also, you don't want to risk getting hit by lightning, like in the image below.

During a tornado, get underground if possible. If you don't have a basement, get to the lowest floor possible. Also, during a tornado, watch for flying and falling debris. The National Weather Service advises to "use pillows, blankets, coats, helmets, etc. to cover up and protect your head and body from flying debris."

Be prepared. Have a good emergency kit, both in your house and your car. For the car, "An emergency kit should include booster cables, shovel, tow rope, sand or cat litter, and a flashlight with extra batteries," the National Weather Service says. "Do not forget a first aid kit, non-perishable food, and blankets or sleeping bags."

This one my mom and dad always tell me to do. And, they're right. "Keep your gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel line," the National Weather Service advises.

Heat can make for a severe weather event, too. So, dress appropriately when it gets really hot. "Lightweight, light-colored clothing reflects heat and sunlight, and helps your body maintain normal temperatures," the National Weather Service says. They add to guzzle lots of "water or non-alcoholic fluids."

Sometimes, you just have to leave ahead of the storm to be safe. In the case of a hurricane, the National Weather Service says to "leave immediately if ordered." They also say that if you are allowed to stay, to "take refuge in a small interior room, closet or hallway on the lowest level during the storm. Put as many walls between you and the outside as you can," and "stay away from windows, skylights and glass doors."

Weather isn't just about thunderstorms and tornados. Air quality is a big part of weather events these days, too. Be on the lookout for air quality alerts in your area. If you have respiratory issues, you should wear a mask when out and about in bad air quality. You should also say inside if the air quality is especially bad.

Even on a perfect weather day, if you're at the beach, there are risks. The NOAA states, "To stay safe, you need to stay aware of the weather, the ocean, tide, and what is going on around you." They add, "Storms, such as thunderstorms, tropical storms, and hurricanes far out at sea can create dangerous waves and currents at the beach, even on a sunny day!"