Saturday storm sets snow record

By RALPH ANSAMI

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Friday’s blizzard arrived late, but packed even more punch than advertised.

The National Weather Service had first predicted up to a foot of snow and then revised the total to 15 inches, but nearly two feet fell in some locations across the Gogebic Range.

The 24-hour snowfall total at the Gogebic-Iron Wastewater Treatment Plant on the Montreal River was 14.6 inches, which was on the low side of area weather stations. Nevertheless, that set a single day Ironwood record for Nov. 9-10, dating to 1901, according to the weather service.

Precipitation for the period was .85 inch. The high was 23 degrees and the low was 14 for the 24-hour period.

The heavy stuff began in Ironwood around 3 p.m. and carried into the early morning hours.

At the height of the storm, Wisconsin 77 was shut down in Montreal because of a jack-knived semi tractor and trailer and U.S. 2 in Kimball was reduced to one lane because a semi was stuck on Ilminen’s Hill.

Michigan State Police said visibility in Ontonagon and Baraga counties was reduced to 20 feet or less during the storm and strong winds added to the mix.

Ironwood streets and alleys were plowed out by 9 a.m. Saturday. Although traffic was light, even the side streets were passable, but high snowbanks at intersections posed hazards for drivers. City crews dumped sand on the icy streets.

Light snow continued on Saturday, as residents were digging out of the storm.