Paula Porter/For the Gazette This semi slid off the roadway on M-26 Wednesday afternoon. Local law enforcement reported a large number of vehicles stuck or on the side of streets and roads because of the winter storm.

HOUGHTON — A severe snowstorm that struck the Keweenaw Peninsula early Wednesday morning has created hazardous driving conditions across Houghton and Keweenaw Counties.

All schools in Houghton, Keweenaw and Baraga counties were closed Wednesday, along with Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College and Gogebic Community College’s Copper Country campus. Michigan tech suspended classes and closed all offices at noon including labs, online classes. Houghton City Transit was closed on Wednesday as well.

At 10 a.m. the City of Houghton issued a statement that roads in the city were snow covered and almost impassable. “Our public works department is out and working hard to keep up. Please stay off the roads. Stay home and be safe.”

The City of Houghton Police Department wasn’t having an much easier time either. “A lot of vehicles are stuck on side streets, on the roads,” Lt. Nick Roberts said. “A lot of semi trucks are stuck.”

Roberts said traffic along Shelden Avenue was not busy Wed. afternoon, which he attributed partly to Michigan Tech being closed due to the weather.

“But we’re still urging people to stay off of the roads,” said Roberts.

Hancock City Police reported bad conditions Wednesday as well. Chief Tami Sleeman said it was a very rough day.

“Everybody is stuck all over,” she said, “and when everybody gets stuck they call us.”

The point is, said Sleeman, is people should not be out on the roads unless they absolutely have to be.

According to the National Weather Service, a winter storm warning was sto remain in effect for Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga and Marquette counties until 7 a.m. this morning.