Early-season winter storm pounds parts of Great Lakes; snow totals smash record in Marquette, Michigan
The winter storm also brought in frigid temperatures that, when combined with gusty winds over the relatively warm waters of the Great Lakes, established a pattern for bands of lake-effect snow and rain showers to set up.
Marquette, MI smashes their record for most 2-day snow in October
Marquette, MI has smashed their record for most 2-day snow in the month of October. 9.1" fell Monday and an additional 8.9" fell Tuesday.
A powerful early-season winter storm knocked out power to tens of thousands of people across parts of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin and produced sizable snowfall totals that broke records.
The winter storm also brought in frigid temperatures that, when combined with gusty winds over the relatively warm waters of the Great Lakes, established a pattern for bands of lake-effect snow and rain showers to set up, allowing for the record-breaking snowfall totals.
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(FOX Weather)
"Marquette, Michigan, has smashed its record for the most two-day snow in the month of October: 9.1 inches fell (Monday), and an additional 8.9 inches fell (Tuesday)," the FOX Forecast Center said. "While Marquette does average (about) 200 inches of snow per year, only 5 inches of it falls in October. The 18 inches has vaulted this month to its third-snowiest October on record behind 1979 (18.6 inches) and 2020 (22.1 inches)."
Marquette wasn't the only location in the region that saw impressive snow totals.
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(FOX Weather)
Gile, Wisconsin, and National Mine, Michigan, also picked up 18 inches of snow when the winter storm spun across the region earlier this week.
Three Lakes and Champion, Michigan, also saw more than a foot of snow over the past few days.
(FOX Weather)
The winter storm is expected to wind down during the day on Wednesday, but Winter Weather Advisories remain in effect into the evening.
Cities under the advisory include Sault Ste. Marie and Mackinaw City in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, as well as Rogers City, Gaylord and Coldsprings in Lower Michigan.
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The snow totals were extremely disruptive to transportation, so officials urged extreme caution on the roads. Drivers were asked to keep it slow and allow for extra time to get to final destinations safely.
Some photos posted to social media showed snow covering trees that were still full of leaves. It's a beautiful sight to see, though the weight of the heavy snow on those leaves is likely what led to so many of the power outages in the region.
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(FOX Weather)
At one point, more than 30,000 utility customers were in the dark as the winter storm continued to pound the region with snow and gusty winds.
Those power outage numbers did fall during the day Tuesday, but at a slower pace than usual.
That's because conditions were still dangerous for utility workers tasked with making repairs. Once conditions improved, they were allowed to get to work to restore power to those that lost it.
As of Wednesday morning, those power outage numbers dropped to just under 14,000.