Joshua Vissers/Daily Mining Gazette A front end loader clears snow clears snow near Applebee’s on Monday morning.

Sunday, the Copper Country was hit with arguably the most severe blizzard in years as roads became impassible, driveways, yards, doorways, and windows filled up with snow.

Copper Country Intermediate School District (CCISD) Superintendent George Stockero made the call on Sunday to close all schools in Houghton and Keweenaw County for Monday.

“Today is one of the worst storms in a long time,” he said via email. “We usually keep the ISD building open on school closings but, for the first time in my tenure, we are closing our ISD building tomorrow.”

Stockero is in his fifth year at CCISD.

As of Sunday night, 17 inches had fallen in Jacobsville, said National Weather Service meteorologist Joe Phillips. Other readings included 13 inches in Hancock and 11.5 inches in Houghton.

After the worst of the snow subsided, winds picked up. The Houghton County Memorial Airport recorded 69 mph gusts at 6:22 p.m. Ten Minutes later, winds of 67 mph were recorded in Copper Harbor.

A low-pressure system came out of the Rocky Mountains, deepening and intensifying in the Great Plains, Phillips said. As it moved to the Northeast, the pressure gradient began intensifying, causing high winds. That met with moist air moving up from the south.

“A lot of cold air moved in and produced snow,” Phillips said. “After it rolled out, northwest winds set in, and we had some pretty windy conditions that set in after the bulk of the snow.”

Michigan Technological University (MTU) closed its offices and canceled classes for Monday.

“Essential residential and dining operations will remain open,” the news release read.

The Student Development Complex, all shuttle services, the Gates Tennis Center, and Little Huskies are included in the closure.

Employees are still allowed on campus, but were encouraged to use their best judgement wen deciding whether to travel to campus.

According to a report released by the Michigan State Police (MSP), a MSP patrol car from Calumet Post was rear-ended by a snowmobile on M-26 near Pepin Road at about 3:50 p.m. on Sunday.

The snowmobile, driven by a 60-year-old Farmington Hills man, was traveling about double the speed of the patrol car when it struck the vehicle, causing severe damage to the snowmobile and moderate damage to the patrol car.

The driver of the snowmobile was ejected and trapped beneath the snowmobile when it came to rest in a snowbank.

Troopers were able to lift the snowmobile to free the man and render medical assistance before he was transported to Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Alcohol, speed and poor visibility were factors in the crash, according to the report. Charges against the driver will be sought after the investigation is complete.

The Houghton County Sheriff’s Department, Mercy Ambulance and Joe’s Towing of Calumet assisted at the scene.

The Houghton County Road Commission worked longer than its normal shift Sunday, then came back out at its usual start of 5:30 a.m., said Assistant Engineer John Cima.

“We weren’t making much progress,” he said. “We’d plow a road and then in an hour it was impassable again. All you can do is wait for it to quit.”

Crews will likely be out late again Monday, he said.

According to the Baraga County Sheriff’s department, several roads in Baraga remain impassable, despite the Baraga County Road Commission (BCRC) working around the clock.

The BCRC could not be reached for comment before time of printing.

The Baraga County Sheriff also reported that several snowmobilers were lost on the trail between L’Anse and Big Bay, and were forced to spend the night on the trail before being rescued by Baraga County Search and Rescue Monday. The Gazette is pursuing an official report with more details.

Hancock Transit System is not running and will not resume regular operations until Monday. Hancock garbage collection is also delayed by a day for the entire week.

There might be lingering snow showers today, particularly in the Keweenaw and the eastern Upper Peninsula, Phillips said.

“The heavier winds are starting to subside right now,” he said. “It’s time to start digging out.”