Escanaba, Michigan – Snow is piling up at a rate of 1 inch per hour across parts of the central and eastern Upper Peninsula, threatening to snarl the Tuesday evening commute with whiteout conditions and wind gusts up to 40 mph.
According to the National Weather Service in Marquette, a Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 7 p.m. Tuesday for Delta and Southern Schoolcraft counties, including Escanaba, Gladstone and Manistique, as well as Alger, Luce and Northern Schoolcraft counties. An additional 2 to 7 inches of snow is expected before the warning expires, with the heaviest totals east of Rapid River and east of Munising.
Visibility may drop below one-quarter mile as blowing snow sweeps across exposed stretches of U.S. 2, M-28 and M-77. Gusty winds will create drifting snow, especially near Lake Michigan and Lake Superior shorelines.
For Alger, Luce and Northern Schoolcraft counties, a Winter Weather Advisory takes effect at 10 p.m. Tuesday and runs through 7 p.m. Wednesday as lake effect snow develops. Another 3 to 6 inches could accumulate overnight into Wednesday, prolonging hazardous travel for the morning commute in Munising, Newberry, Seney and Grand Marais.
Drivers should slow down and allow extra stopping distance. Keep an emergency kit with food, water, blankets and a flashlight in your vehicle. Snow showers will gradually transition to lake effect bands late tonight, and additional advisories remain possible into Wednesday evening.
