A quiet month
September was warmer and dryer than normal
Trending
MARQUETTE -- According to figures released by the Marquette office of the National Weather Service office in Marquette, the weather in September in the western Upper Peninsula was pretty much a continuation of what we saw in August. NWS meteorologist Lily Chapman called September another generally quiet month. “Temperatures started off quite warm, trending downward mid-month, before climbing to near and above normal during the final week of September,” Chapman said.
As has been the case for much of the entire summer, precipitation in the month ran well below normal. “This extended period of below-normal precipitation lead to further degradation in drought class across much of the U.P.” Chapman stated. She noted precipitation for much of the western U.P. in September totaled between 2 and 3 inches, far less than normal.
While the area was drier in September, the temperatures were warmer with several heat records set in the month. The city of Ironwood tied a record for the warmest low temperature reading at 58° on Sept. 30. Ironwood also reported the 9th warmest September on record. Several UP communities reported dry and warm conditions in their all time top ten including Marquette, Ironwood, Iron Mt. and Manistique.
Chqpmqn said despite warmer conditions, cooler temperatures came a bit early. “The month started off rather warm, but mid to late month, cooler temperatures kicked off a threat for frost and freeze impacts across the area.”
At the Houghton County Airport the highest temperature for the month was reported on Sept. 1 at 83°, while the low temp. 35° was recording on Sept. 22. Chapman said the mean average temperature the airport was 58.7° an increase of 2.2° above the norm of 56.5°. Precipitation at the airport was just under two inches at 1.96″. Monthly precipitation in the Keweenaw was 2.76″ in Houghton, 2.32″ in Kearsarge, 2.27″ In Atlantic Mine, 2.06 in Amasa and 1.8″ in Ontonagon, all well below the average of nearly four inches for the month of September.
Chapman said, what little rain there was in September was generally accompanied windy conditions. “Periods of rain and gusty winds early to mid-month brought on early season gales and strong winds over land at times.”
The winds over the Lake Superior were strong at times as well, with high winds on the big lake causing cancellation of the Keweenaw Lions Club’s Fall Superior Cruise aboard the Isle Royale Queen IV, scheduled out of Copper Harbor on Sept. 20.
Sept. 15 was a windy day in the Keweenaw with gusty conditions reported at the Houghton County Airport (60 mph), Deleware (50 mph), Phoenix (41 mph), Copper Harbort (37 mph), Fresda (41 mph), Chassell (36 mph) and Arnheim (35 mp).
Looking ahead, AccuWeather predicts Marquette’s October 2026 forecast shows daily high temperatures ranging from 43° to 76°, with overnight lows between 31° and 58°. The average high for October is 53° with an average low of 43°.