Marquette, Michigan – Life-threatening cold remains entrenched across Upper Michigan, with brutal wind chills dropping as low as 40 degrees below zero and creating dangerous conditions through Saturday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Marquette, an Extreme Cold Warning remains in effect until 10 AM EST Saturday for much of the Upper Peninsula. Officials warn that frostbite can develop on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes, with hypothermia likely shortly afterward without adequate protection.
The coldest wind chills, reaching 40 below zero, are expected across Marquette, Baraga, Gogebic, Iron, Dickinson, Menominee, Keweenaw, Ontonagon, and Houghton counties. Cities impacted include Marquette, Ironwood, Iron Mountain, Menominee, Hancock, Houghton, L’Anse, Copper Harbor, Ontonagon, and Iron River.
Farther east, dangerously cold wind chills nearing 35 below zero continue across Alger, Delta, and Schoolcraft counties, affecting Escanaba, Gladstone, Munising, Manistique, Seney, and Grand Marais. These areas remain under the same warning expiration.
Emergency managers urge residents to avoid unnecessary outdoor activity, dress in multiple insulated layers with face protection, and take steps to prevent frozen pipes by wrapping exposed plumbing or allowing faucets to drip slowly.
The Extreme Cold Warning remains in effect through 10 AM Saturday, with gradual improvement expected later in the day. Additional advisories may be issued if the cold persists longer than expected.
