Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Snow totals 6.5 inches from lake-effect storm

IRONWOOD — The weather forecasters were accurate in predicting the 6.5 inches of snow that fell for Ironwood beginning Wednesday evening and carrying through Friday morning.

The Gogebic-Iron Wastewater Treatment Plant weather station off U.S. 2 measured 4.5 inches for the 24-hour period to 7 a.m. Thursday and 2 more inches for the period to 7 a.m. Friday. The Lake Superior-effect snow was caused by strong north winds blowing over the warmer water of the lake.

There was 6 inches of snow on the ground Friday morning at the treatment plant, located on the Montreal River.

The average temperature for November on Friday stood at 26 degrees, or 9 degrees below the 116-year average, according to Ironwood statistics kept at the National Weather Service station in Marquette.

An overnight low of 9 was recorded on Friday morning.

ABR Trails, offering cross country skiing in the Ironwood-Erwin Township area, planned on opening today. A total of 39 kilometers of trails had been groomed and there was 8 inches of new snow.

There were a few icy and wet areas, but the cold overnight temperatures ensured the opener this morning.

It’s debatable whether the snow will last through the Wednesday gun-deer opener for Michigan and the Saturday, Nov. 18, opener in Wisconsin because there are highs in the low 40s forecast for the next week.

—Ralph Ansami