LANSING, Mich. — This Thanksgiving, residents of the Great Lakes region, particularly those in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, are bracing for a significant weather event as a winter storm continues to unload snow.
The snow, which began falling Wednesday, persisted into Thursday with persistent winds and snow bands originating from the north and northwest, resulting in blizzard warnings in key areas, notably Alger County, east of Marquette, Mich.
According to the National Weather Service, the heaviest snowfall is expected west of Munising, where an additional 13 inches could be recorded. As the day continues, snow bands are expected to taper off in the western counties of the Upper Peninsula.
Fifteen inches of snow were registered at our office today, stated Lily Chapman, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Marquette. Reports from near Bessemer indicate snowfall amounts fluctuating between 18 to 28 inches.
The accumulations can vary widely depending on elevation and the alignment of the strongest snow bands, Chapman explained.
Understanding Lake Effect Snow
Lake effect snow occurs when cold air from Canada flows over the warmer waters of the Great Lakes, leading to moisture being lifted and resulting in localized heavy snowfall.
This weather phenomenon is particularly prominent in Michigan, Ohio, and New York, but can also be observed near other large water bodies, such as the Great Salt Lake in Utah.
In one notable report early Thursday morning, a location near Montreal, Wisconsin, just west of Bessemer, recorded an astounding 33 inches of snow, with meteorologist Roy Eckberg attributing the high totals to both lake effect and the terrain's elevation.
Traveling Hazards
The ongoing lake effect snow is causing extremely hazardous driving conditions across the Upper Peninsula—visibility is significantly reduced due to sudden whiteout conditions.
Compounding this, winds reaching 45 mph threaten to create large snow drifts over roads, with over 1,000 power outages reported near Houghton, Mich. Additionally, Consumers Energy has also reported outages along the Lake Michigan coast due to the snow and winds.
As Thanksgiving progresses, the lake effect snow is anticipated to shift from west to east by Friday, with a different, but milder weather system expected to bring more snow to the Upper Peninsula over the following weekend.
The National Weather Service updated travelers about potential dangerous road conditions, reporting that about two to three inches of snow were already witnessed near Buffalo, New York, with warnings remaining in effect until early Saturday morning.
