Michigan’s Upper Peninsula starts the day under a steel-gray sky, with a sharp chill biting through layers and frost clinging to cars and rooftops.
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures hovered near 30 degrees early this morning in Marquette, Ishpeming, Negaunee, and Munising, with wind chills dropping into the mid-20s in exposed areas . That places much of the region at or below freezing through mid-morning, especially inland away from Lake Superior.
This is part of a broader system keeping much-below-average temperatures locked across the Great Lakes, delaying any true spring warm-up.
The immediate impact hits both roads and vegetation. Moisture on untreated surfaces can briefly freeze, especially on elevated stretches of US-41 and shaded rural roads west of Marquette. Drivers may encounter isolated slick spots through about 10 a.m., particularly near low-lying forested areas.
Gardeners face a more widespread issue. Tender plants, early blooms, and backyard vegetation can suffer damage in just a few hours at these temperatures. Cold air settles into valleys and low spots, making inland communities more vulnerable than lakeshore areas.
Conditions improve by afternoon, with sunshine pushing highs toward 40 degrees. Still, the air remains brisk, and another cold dip arrives tonight with lows returning near 30.
Looking ahead, a gradual warm-up begins this weekend. Highs climb into the mid-40s Saturday and mid-50s Sunday, but clouds increase late Sunday with a slight chance of showers. By early next week, steadier rain moves in, with temperatures holding in the 50s.
Five-day outlook:
Saturday: Sunny, high near 46°F
Sunday: Partly sunny, slight showers late, high near 55°F
Monday: Showers likely, high near 53°F
Tuesday: Partly sunny, high near 43°F
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, high near 43°F
