Paula Porter, for the Gazette Severe winter weather visited the Copper Country lates Tuesday night and continued into Thanksgiving Day. The wet, heavy snow coupled with high brought down power lines causing loss of electricity to thousands throughout Houghton Ontonagon, Keweenaw and Baraga Counties. This picture was taken Wednesday morning, on M-203 near the intersection of Lakeshore Drive in Houghton County

HOUGHTON — As predicted, winter weather struck the Copper Country just before the Thanksgiving holiday. The snow began in earnest just before midnight Tuesday dropping up to six inches in some locations. Winds gusting in excess of 40 mph were reported. The heavy snow, coupled with the high winds caused a lot of problems Wednesday and into Thursday morning. Crews were out in force as heavy snow and high winds knocked down trees which in some cases blocked roads, and fell over power lines causing power outages in Ontonagon, Houghton and Keweenaw counties, affecting thousands of power customers.

A large-scale power outage occurred on the M-26 business strip in Houghton Wednesday morning forcing several large retailers, including Marketplace Foods and Walmart to temporarily close. The outage also affected traffic flowing on M-26 with traffic signals left dark. Large portions of Laurium and nearby areas were without electricity as well. Despite the challenges no major accidents or incidents were reported according to the Houghton County Sheriff’s department, through Wednesday afternoon.

As of Noon Thanksgiving Day The Upper Peninsula Power company reported 1,736 customers with out power in Houghton County, 1,124 in Keweenaw County, 619 in Baraga County and 696 In Ontonagon County. Hundreds of customers were left in the dark and many without heat Wednesday night. In response, several warming centers were set up to offer shelter for those who have lost electricity and in many cases their source of home heating. According to a statement released by the Bootjack Fire and Rescue Foundation, Warming sites were available at the Bootjack Fire Hall. The Chassell Volunteer Fire and Rescue and Chassell Medical First Responders opened up the Fire hall in Chassell as a warming shelter as well asthe Quincy-Franklin-Hancock Township Fire hall on Sunshine Road.

It was not known at press time how many people took advantage of the sites which also served food, charged electronic devices and supported other needs that community members had.

While the snow stopped for the most part on Thanksgiving day, reports from the Keweenaw County Road Commission show that 24 inches of snow fell between Tuesday night and Thursday noon. The National Weather Service Office in Negaunee Township reported similar numbers, with an official total of 7 inches in Houghton, and 14.4 in Twin Lakes in the 24 hour period ending Thursday Morning.