Weather Advisory
Ice, wind hits Keweenaw in late-season storm
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HOUGHTON -- Ice and high winds are hitting the Keweenaw in a spring storm that began Tuesday night and is expected to continue into Thursday.
A low-pressure system over the west side of Lake Superior is moving northeast from Minnesota, which will lead to strong winds overnight, said Daniel Jablonski, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Negaunee.
A body of air higher in the atmosphere warmed precipitation, which fell through a colder layer of air overnight, Jablonski said.
"That allowed things to freeze up as they hit the ground," he said.
Stations in the Keweenaw reported around three-tenths of an inch of ice by around 2 p.m. Wednesday.
The Portage Lake District Library opened two hours late Wednesday because of icy conditions and power outages in the Houghton area. All service had been restored by Wednesday afternoon.
Winds were expected to pick up Wednesday as the cold front passes through, Jablonski said.
A high wind warning remained in effect for Keweenaw and northern Houghton counties through 8 p.m. Thursday. Winds of 20 to 30 mph were possible; gusts could reach up to 60 mph.
Wind advisories were also in place for southern Houghton, Baraga and Ontonagon counties. Wind speeds there were 15 to 20 mph, coupled with gusts of up to 45 mph in Houghton and Baraga, and up to 50 in Ontonagon.
A dense fog advisory was also in effect through Wednesday afternoon.
With warming temperatures, minor lakeshore flooding and erosion was also forecast for northern Houghton and Keweenaw counties.
The Keweenaw could also see about an inch of lake-effect snow Thursday, Jablonski said.
"Nothing too crazy," he said.
Despite a leading question, Jablonski wasn't prepared to call the storm the end of winter. But as of now, the forecast shows no major systems coming through.
It's also getting warmer.
Temperatures could climb into the 50s by Sunday. Highs are expected to stay in the 50s or high 40s through the end of next week.
"It's going to be windy overnight, but that'll ramp down," Jablonski said. "We'll get to see some decent snow melt this weekend."