Marquette, MI – A high-impact winter storm is bearing down on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan Sunday night, with blizzard conditions, heavy snow, and very strong winds expected to make travel very difficult to impossible through Monday.
According to the National Weather Service in Marquette, rain will rapidly transition to snow from west to east tonight, with snowfall rates increasing to 1 to 2 inches per hour, especially across higher terrain in Marquette and Baraga counties. Snow will initially be wet, then become drier and more prone to blowing and drifting as colder air moves in overnight.
Forecasters say there is a greater than 75% chance of at least one foot of snow along and north of Lake Superior, with storm totals ranging from 10 to 23 inches across much of the central and eastern Upper Peninsula. Localized totals of 20 inches or more are possible from Ironwood through Marquette and east toward Munising, particularly near and north of U.S. Highway 28.
Winds will be a major factor in storm impacts. Northerly wind gusts of 40 to 65 mph are expected late tonight through Monday, producing near-zero visibility, whiteout conditions, and blizzard-level impacts. The strongest winds are expected along the Lake Superior shoreline and the Keweenaw Peninsula.
The National Weather Service warns that dangerous travel conditions will persist into the Monday morning commute, with blowing snow, drifting, and rapidly changing visibility. Scattered power outages are possible due to heavy snow loading and strong winds bringing down trees and power lines.
Snow will remain heavy Monday morning, gradually easing in intensity during the afternoon. Additional lake-effect snowfall is expected Monday night, especially downwind of Lake Superior, prolonging impacts into early Tuesday.
Residents are urged to avoid unnecessary travel, prepare for possible power outages, and check on neighbors who may need assistance. Officials stress that those who must travel should carry emergency supplies and allow extra time.
For ongoing updates, residents should monitor weather.gov, local media, and official National Weather Service alerts.
