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

As mentioned back on November 22^nd, there are certain days in our history that no one alive at the time will ever forget.  One of these days is December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor Day. 

This December started warm, but nowhere near as warm as in 1941.  The first five days in Marquette saw temperatures rise into the mid 40s to mid 50s each day.  On the 4^th, the high was 54 and the low was a downright balmy 46.  A sharp cold front passed late on the 5^th and the high on the 6^th was only 24.  On December 7, 1941 the high recovered to 38 degrees and the low was 17, the high temperature was still above average.  Skies were mostly cloudy and there was a trace of snow. 

Snow was scant the entire month in 1941.  There was no more than an inch of snow at one time and the “deepest” snow cover during the month was a little over 2 inches.  There was merely a dusting on the ground at Christmas.  The entire month brought only 7.6 inches of snow to Marquette. 

It was mentioned yesterday that Upper Michigan has been down on snow the last few years.  That was certainly the case in the early 40s.  During the winter of 1940-41 only 53.4 inches of snow was measured in Marquette; the long-term average is 110 inches.  The 53.4-inch total is the lowest seasonal snowfall in the record at Marquette.  This next winter we’re focusing on saw just a little more.  Only 59.9 inches fell in 1941-42; this is the second lowest total.  After the 7.6 inches in December, even less fell in January 1942—a measly 5.3 inches; in February there was only 8.1 inches of snow the entire month.  The early 1940s were certainly tough times for snow lovers!