Houghton, MI – Travel across Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula could grind to a halt by early Saturday as sleet piles up to 2 inches and ice coats roads, creating hazardous conditions just hours before sunrise.
According to the National Weather Service in Marquette, a second Winter Storm Warning begins at 2 a.m. Saturday and continues through 2 p.m., bringing heavy sleet and up to two-tenths of an inch of ice across Keweenaw and northern Houghton counties. Winds may gust as high as 40 mph, increasing the risk of blowing sleet and reduced visibility .
Communities including Houghton, Hancock, and Copper Harbor will see rapidly deteriorating road conditions overnight. US-41 along the Keweenaw spine is especially vulnerable, where sleet accumulation could make travel nearly impossible during the early morning hours.
Further south, Ontonagon, Marquette, and Baraga counties transition into a prolonged ice event starting between 11 p.m. Friday and early Saturday, with ice totals reaching up to 0.4 inches. Power outages and tree damage are likely as ice builds on lines and branches.
Residents should avoid overnight travel, charge essential devices, and prepare for potential outages. Warnings remain in effect through Saturday afternoon as conditions continue to evolve across the Upper Peninsula.
