textproduct: Marquette

KEY MESSAGES

- Lake effect snow showers continue over the north wind snow belts through tonight as a couple more disturbances pass through the region.

- Very cold in the east again this morning, with wind chills as low as -25F.

- Temperatures finally return to around normal this weekend, continuing through much of next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 438 AM EST Fri Jan 30 2026

Satellite imagery/surface analysis early this morning continues to support a north-northeasterly lake effect snow regime. In the mid- levels, an elongated trough continues to stretch from the Canadian Maritimes to the Upper Midwest, while high pressure at the surface remains centered over the Manitoba/Ontario border. As a result, current radar mosaic continues to show persistent snow bands streaming into Marquette and Alger Counties. Intensity, however, has decreased compared to yesterday evening's snow bands. Nonetheless, drivers should continue to exercise caution during the commutes this morning and this evening, especially across Alger County where roads will be slick and an uptick in wind gusts this afternoon could cause reduced visibilities.

Aside from the ongoing lake effect snow concerns, the eastern UP will be in for another frigid morning as temperatures remain poised to drop into the negative teens with wind chills in the -20 to -25F range. Therefore, a Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect through late morning for Luce, Schoolcraft, Alger, and Delta Counties. Currently, the coldest observation across the forecast area is coming from Newberry at -6 degrees. Temperatures will warm back into the teens across the area during the day today with warmer overnight lows then expected for tonight as temperatures mainly stay in the single digits above zero across the east. Otherwise, troughing maintains a mainly light lake effect regime in the northerly wind snow belts through tonight, with an additional 1-2 inches expected for most areas adjacent to Lake Superior and perhaps slightly more for parts of Alger County.

Will finally start to see some more noteworthy changes in the pattern by this weekend as the upper level trough drops south of the region and allows positively tilted upper level ridging to build into the Upper Great Lakes from the west. This will mostly bring an end to lake effect this weekend, with daytime temperatures rebounding closer to or even slightly above normal highs in the 20s for the first time in several weeks. Another weak trough may bring some light snow early next week, but high pressure should generally help to keep lake effect at bay through much of next week as delta- Ts only get into the teens at times. Expect high temperatures to generally remain in the 20s, with overnight lows in the single digits above to the low teens through much of next week.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 626 AM EST Fri Jan 30 2026

Mainly MVFR and occasional IFR conditions are expected through the afternoon, with MVFR expected tonight. Lake effect snow showers and clouds will continue through the day with northerly flow over the region. Overall the intensity of the lake effect snow showers will become lighter as the day progresses and eventually will come to and end tonight from west to east. Expecting mainly MVFR by this afternoon for CMX and IWD. At SAW this afternoon low to mid level moisture will push through the central and eastern U.P which will combine with the lake effect snow showers to continue periods of IFR visby into the afternoon. Winds will gust up to 20kt at CMX and SAW today.

MARINE

Issued at 345 PM EST Thu Jan 29 2026

A passing upper level trough will maintain northerly winds of 20-25 kt and 3-6 ft wave heights over Lake Superior through Friday night, resulting in small craft headlines in the nearshores and ongoing heavy freezing spray concerns through early Saturday morning. Conditions will improve as high pressure builds overhead this weekend, allowing winds to diminish below 20 kt across the lake. Winds increase to 20-25 kt again out of the southwest on Sunday ahead of the next trough, then shifting northwesterly in its wake through early next week. Do not expect any gales as probabilities remain low through the period.

MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Upper Michigan... Cold Weather Advisory until 10 AM EST this morning for MIZ006- 007-013-014-085.

Lake Superior... Heavy Freezing Spray Warning until 7 AM EST /6 AM CST/ this morning for LSZ240>242-263.

Heavy Freezing Spray Warning until 1 AM EST Saturday for LSZ243>250-264>266.

Lake Michigan... None.