An early-season winter storm is developing in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, with very high waves causing flooding and erosion around the Great Lakes, and scattered snow showers and high winds that can cause power outages. the forecaster said.
The storm, which began Sunday evening, is now over northern Lake Huron. warning Strong winds were frequent in Lake Superior and Lake Michigan through Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. National Weather Service, Marquette, Michigan.
On Lake Superior, waves can reach heights of 20 to 25 feet and can escalate to 31 feet, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
Berglund Dam near Lake Superior had about 11 inches of snow overnight by Monday morning, said Greg Michaels, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Marquette. As the snowfall continued, the snow was expected to weaken.
While it wasn’t uncommon for early snow to fall in the Upper Midwest, heavy snowfall was “unusual,” Michels said. Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories were in effect through Tuesday evening for parts of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin.
“This is early snowfall,” he said, adding that there was occasional snowfall in the area in September.
Rain and snow showers are possible in the Great Lakes region through Monday, and gusts of winds up to 50 miles per hour are possible near Lake Superior, according to the National Weather Service. There was also up to 6 inches of additional snowfall in northern Wisconsin. Green Bay weather service saidadded that the “worst case” was expected for Monday afternoon.
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula could receive up to a foot of snow on Monday. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Snow is expected to taper off in northwestern Michigan on Monday, but is expected to continue through Tuesday in north-central Michigan, Michaels said.
The winter storm “starts to lose its influence on Tuesday night” but will continue through Wednesday, Michaels said. He said the storm will subside, but the lake effect (rain or snow patterns produced by the interaction of the temperature of the lake with the air at higher altitudes) will persist as it progresses.
“Now we have a combination of storms and lake effects,” Michels said. “Lake Superior really creates its own weather.”
A cold front is moving through the Midwest and overnight freeze warnings have been issued for states such as Missouri, Indiana and Kansas.