Marquette, MI – Drivers across Upper Michigan should complete travel before 7 p.m. tonight as heavy snow, sleet and 50 mph wind gusts begin sweeping across the peninsula and intensify overnight.
According to the National Weather Service in Marquette, Winter Storm Warnings stretch from Baraga and Marquette counties east through Alger, Luce, Delta and Schoolcraft counties, and north into Keweenaw and northern Houghton counties. Snow totals of 4 to 7 inches are expected in many communities, with 8 to 12 inches in the Keweenaw Peninsula and as much as 13 to 17 inches over higher terrain from Mohawk to Delaware. Ice accumulations near one-tenth of an inch will coat roads and power lines.
Marquette, Gwinn and L’Anse will see snow begin this evening, while Munising, Escanaba and Manistique face worsening conditions after 1 a.m. Wednesday. In Keweenaw County, gusts up to 50 mph will trigger widespread blowing snow and near-whiteout visibility along US-41 and M-26.
Wet snow and ice could snap tree limbs and cause scattered power outages, especially near Lake Superior’s shoreline.
Residents should delay travel, charge devices and stock vehicles with winter supplies. The heaviest impacts will hit during both Wednesday commutes, with warnings lasting until 7 p.m. Wednesday for most areas and until 7 a.m. Thursday in the Keweenaw.
