Latest news, weather, high school sports for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

The usual pattern in the winter is for more snowfall in northern sections of Upper Michigan.  Of course there’s the lake-effect; the south is too far removed from Lake Superior to get as much snow as up north.  When a system—a low-pressure area moves in—the north again will often get more snow.  First, there will be snow from the system and then lake-effect and enhancement will often add to the totals.  However, if a low passes far enough south, southern areas can end up with more snow.  This happened on February 13, 1962. 

Low pressure developed out of Colorado the evening of February 12, 1962 while a huge, cold high in Ontario ridged into Upper Michigan (Image 1 above).  The low then moved almost due eastward to a position over northern Indiana the next evening (Image 2).  A trough extended northward from the low into the U.P. and was the focus of heavy snow.  Iron Mountain, closest to the path of the low received 11 inches of snow; Marquette to the north wound up with only 7.7 inches.  The air behind the low wasn’t cold enough for Lake Superior to pile on additional snow. 

While Marquette was on the short end of this storm, February 1962 was snowy and cold overall.  There were only seven days without measurable snow.  The mean temperature came up over 5 degrees below average.  The constant snow and cold made for little melting so that by the last week of the month, snow cover in the town was 40 inches on the level.  Tremendous snow banks at intersections in the city caused hazardous driving conditions. 

Our next snow system looks as if it will bring more snow, at least initially, to southern sections.  Low pressure passing through Wisconsin will likely generate a band of snow that may bring the Menominee area 2 to 4 inches; lesser amounts are expected to the north.  However, cold air flowing in behind the system will mean heavy lake-effect snow over parts of the northern U.P. Thursday night and Friday.