Biggest late season storm in over 10 years

Posted: 04.20.2009 at 4:40 PM

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From summerlike temperatures to heavy snow.

MARQUETTE COUNTY -- Last Friday, the U.P. was enjoying the warmest temperatures of the year. But Monday, Old Man Winter made a hasty return.

Since early this morning, a wet snow has piled up over the western half of Upper Michigan, but the eastern half has mainly experienced a cold rain.

While just days ago, people were hitting the driving range in Marquette County, they're now shoveling their sidewalk.

"It's normal," said Terri Oleksy of Negaunee. "We're used to it up here. We get spoiled for a little while and then the snow comes down again to kind of dampen our spirits a little bit, but we get past it."

It's true that April snowstorms are normal in the U.P., but not this much, this late into spring.

"The last heavy snowfall event that happened in late April or even May would have been back in 2002," stated Andrew Just of the National Weather Service in Negaunee Township.

That storm was on on April 28 and it produced 8.5 inches, but this time around, the NWS is expecting around a foot of snow at their office by the time the storm winds down Tuesday night. That'll make this event the biggest late season storm in over ten years.

Fortunately, roadways haven't been too bad today, but they're expected to become snow covered overnight.

Power outages are also a concern.

"Late tonight into tomorrow morning we may have to watch for any tree limbs to come down," Just said. "Luckily we don't have any leaves out," he adds. "If there were leaves, this would be a bigger problem, but still you're going to end up having snow accumulate on powerlines."

One positive to this storm; it's bringing serious relief to the ongoing drought wildfire dangers.

To track the storm, be sure to check out our Weather Page. There you will find the usual trusted information, but we've added a few new features lately. Look for the Interactive Radar and the Severe Weather Page which will be helpful for the most recent information for severe weather in your area or anywhere in the U.S.