Marquette, MI – Winter is making an early return to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula this weekend, with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Marquette warning of impactful lake effect snow developing Saturday night into Monday morning.
According to the NWS, north and northwest winds off Lake Superior will generate “snow belt” conditions, producing heavy snow squalls in favored areas including Marquette, Negaunee, Ishpeming, L’Anse, and Ironwood. These regions are expected to see the most persistent snowfall through early Monday as cold air flows over the lake.
“When winds shift between north and northwest, lake effect snow showers typically target higher terrain and coastal zones along the Keweenaw Peninsula and central Upper Michigan,” forecasters said. The snow may be “lake enhanced,” meaning stronger bands of accumulation due to moisture and instability over the open water.
Drivers along U.S. 41, M-28, and nearby rural routes should prepare for sudden visibility drops and slippery roads, especially during heavier bursts of snow. The NWS advises residents to check updated winter weather briefings, which are issued twice daily as conditions evolve.
This marks one of the first significant lake effect snow events of the season, signaling the start of a colder, stormier pattern heading into mid-November.
