Bohnak, Karl

The first holiday of summer is underway.

However, in terms of temperature, it is not really summer just yet.

The average high at the National Weather Service (NWS) near Negaunee is only in the mid to upper 60s at the end of May, while the average low remains in the chilly mid 40s. There have been some cool, wet Memorial Day weekends and some downright hot ones, too.

Looking back, the latest widespread snowfall on record occurred just before the holiday (Memorial Day was celebrated on the 30th until 1971) from May 27-29, 1947 across a wide section of the Midwest from the central Plains into eastern Upper Michigan.

While areas in the west like Houghton missed the snow entirely, eastern portions were socked.

Six inches or more fell from around Escanaba to Munising and Newberry. Nearly a foot of snow was said to have come down between Paradise and Eckerman in far eastern Upper Michigan.

The hottest weather in recent times occurred in 1969.

Houghton and the NWS site both set May records with a high of 95 on May 28, while the city of Marquette sizzled at 100 degrees — also a May record.

In the Dust Bowl decade of the 1930s, both Ironwood and Iron Mountain hit 100 degrees on May 31, 1934.

While extreme heat is not anticipated, a shot of summer is expected late this holiday weekend.

Look for temperatures mainly in the 70s over the weekend with widespread 80s likely by Monday.