DULUTH, Minn. — Heavy lake-effect snow continued to impact parts of northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s western Upper Peninsula on Saturday, creating hazardous travel conditions along the Lake Superior shoreline near the Minnesota border.
The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings through Saturday evening for portions of Iron, Bayfield and Douglas counties in Wisconsin, as well as Gogebic and Ontonagon counties in Michigan. Additional snowfall of up to 4 inches was expected in Bayfield and Douglas counties, while northern Iron County could see between 3 and 6 inches, forecasters said.
In Michigan’s western Upper Peninsula, lake-effect snow bands were forecast to produce 1 to 6 inches of additional accumulation, with the heaviest snow falling in higher terrain near Lake Superior from Ironwood eastward toward Ontonagon. Gusty winds were expected to cause blowing snow and sharply reduced visibility at times.
Weather officials warned that visibility could drop below a quarter mile during heavier snow bursts, making travel difficult or dangerous. Slippery roads were reported across the region, particularly along highways near the South Shore of Lake Superior, including Wisconsin Highway 13, where travel was strongly discouraged.
The storm system is being fueled by cold air moving across the relatively warm waters of Lake Superior, a setup that commonly produces intense but localized snowfall in the Upper Great Lakes during winter.
Emergency officials urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and to carry winter safety supplies if travel cannot be delayed. Drivers were advised to check road conditions through state 511 systems before heading out.
No widespread power outages or injuries were reported early Saturday, but officials cautioned that heavy snow and gusty winds could bring down tree branches and lead to isolated outages.
Winter storm warnings were expected to expire by early Saturday evening as lake-effect snow gradually tapers off across the region.
