In brief
Residents in the Great Lakes region are facing a snowy Thanksgiving as a weather system brings heavy lake effect snow to the area. With up to 28 inches of snow reported in some locations, hazardous driving conditions are anticipated, along with strong winds leading to power outages. Forecasts indicate that conditions may ease as the weekend approaches, although additional snowfall is expected.
LANSING, Mich. (RTWNEWS) — As Thanksgiving approaches, residents of the Great Lakes region brace for a snowy holiday, especially in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. A persistent weather system continues to drench the area with snow, leading to hazardous conditions.
Snowfall, which started on Wednesday, has intensified, with blizzard warnings active in Alger County until Thursday evening. Areas west of Munising brace for up to 13 inches of additional snow accumulation as forecasted by the National Weather Service.
Reports indicate that 15 inches of snow was measured at the National Weather Service office in Marquette on Thursday morning, while some locations near Bessemer, Michigan saw accumulations between 18 to 28 inches. The meteorologist Lily Chapman noted the variability in snow levels due to elevation and stronger snow bands.
Understanding Lake Effect Snow
Lake effect snow occurs when cold Canadian air moves over the warmer waters of the Great Lakes. This meteorological phenomenon can produce significant snowfall rates, sometimes exceeding 3 inches per hour in certain bands.
Besides Michigan, Ohio and New York are also impacted by this weather pattern, though similar conditions can manifest over other large bodies of water.
In particular, reports from just west of Bessemer show extreme snowfall totals of 33 inches early Thursday morning, attributed to local terrain conditions that enhance cloud formation.
Travel Caution on Thanksgiving
The shifting snow bands can drastically reduce visibility, making driving conditions perilous. Difficult travel expectations have been noted across the Upper Peninsula, as gusty winds up to 45 mph threaten to create dangerous snowdrifts and cause power outages.
More than 1,000 power outages were logged near Houghton, with similar disruptions reported in areas around Lake Michigan. The National Weather Service forecasts an additional 2 inches of snow for regions near the lakeshore with caution advised for slick roads.
As the week draws to an end, conditions are predicted to ease eastward, but another mild weather system may bring a few more inches of snow over the weekend. Reports indicate about 2 to 3 inches of snow in the Buffalo, New York area on Thanksgiving morning, with ongoing warnings in effect.
