Marquette, Michigan – Snow will rapidly intensify across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula late Thursday night, threatening the Friday morning commute with whiteout conditions and wind gusts up to 50 mph.
According to the National Weather Service in Marquette, a Winter Storm Warning begins Thursday evening across much of the Upper Peninsula and continues into Friday afternoon or evening depending on location. Forecasters expect widespread snowfall totals between 6 and 12 inches, with higher terrain in the Keweenaw Peninsula possibly reaching 17 inches.
The heaviest snowfall is expected across Keweenaw and northern Houghton counties, including Hancock, Houghton, and Copper Harbor, where winds could gust to 50 mph and create widespread blowing snow. These conditions may sharply reduce visibility and make travel extremely difficult along exposed stretches of U.S. 41 and other peninsula roads.
Farther west, Ontonagon, Gogebic, Baraga, Iron, and southern Houghton counties could see 6 to 10 inches of snow with gusts up to 35 mph. Meanwhile, Dickinson and Menominee counties may receive 5 to 8 inches, especially along and north of U.S. 2.
Central and eastern areas including Marquette, Munising, Escanaba, Newberry, and Manistique are forecast to receive 5 to 11 inches of snow with wind gusts near 40 mph. Snowfall rates and blowing snow could affect both the Friday morning and evening commutes.
Residents are urged to limit travel during the storm and prepare for isolated power outages as strong winds bring down tree branches. Drivers who must travel should carry emergency supplies such as food, water, blankets, and flashlights.
Snow and blowing snow are expected to continue through Friday afternoon or evening across the Upper Peninsula, and additional advisories could follow as the storm develops.
