textproduct: Marquette

KEY MESSAGES

- Lake effect snow and blowing snow will continue over the eastern UP through tonight. Visibility may be reduced to near zero at times near the lakeshore and in open areas.

- An arctic airmass will remain over the area through Saturday, with wind chills plummeting into the negative 10 to negative 20 range tonight into Saturday morning.

- Warmer than normal temperatures make a return next week. This will create areas of unstable ice on inland lakes and along the Great Lakes shorelines.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 243 PM EST Fri Feb 6 2026

Arctic airmass continues to spread across the area from the north, with 850 mb temps falling to near -20C by early Saturday morning. Lake effect snow bands are continuing to occur over the east half of the lake, streaming into Marquette, Alger, Delta, and Schoolcraft Counties. Combined with the 30-40 kt wind gusts, areas of snow and blowing snow are locally reducing visibility to less than half a mile, with near zero visiblity along the immediate lakeshore, with visibility being further hampered by snow blowing off the ice- covered lake. Will continue with Winter Weather Advisories mentioning locally near-zero visibility, and have added Marquette County especially for the stretch east of Harvey along M-28 which is closed at this time due to accidents. Over the west, lake effect snow activity has been muted by drier air associated with high pressure building in, but there is one band near the Ironwood area that is working through early this afternoon.

Tonight, the lake effect snow will continue for Alger through Luce Counties, and can expect the locally reduced visibilities in LES bands and whiteout conditions near the lake to continue, especially for the first half of the night. Winds will gradually diminish late tonight, bringing improving conditions. Over the west, the ridge of high pressure building in should result in good radiational cooling conditions, with low temperatures likely in the -10 to -15F range. Elsewhere air temps will not be quite as low, but the wind chill factor will make apparent temps feel like -5 to -10 in the east and - 10 to -20 elsewhere.

The high will shift east Saturday night with a quick shot of frontogenesis in the 850 to 500 mb layer. Still some uncertainties between the hi-res and global guidance, but enough confidence to increase PoPs to 40-70 percent overnight. Overall expect snow amounts to be around an inch or less, but given the frontogenesis and possible banded precipitation, can't rule out local amounts up to 3 inches, supported by NBM5.0 PMM.

Upper level pattern flattens out for early next week with split flow and a few quick-moving systems possible. As of now, probability of phasing leading to a larger system is low, but will continue to monitor. Airmass will moderate as well with some above freezing temps expected (except for the eastern UP) Mon/Tue.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 638 PM EST Fri Feb 6 2026

Clearing skies are present across evening's satellite analysis, mainly for the western half of the UP as high pressure and drier air enter from the northwest. Lake effect snow and clouds persist across the east half, however, and a few lingering light snow showers may be present at SAW through the overnight hours tonight. Similar conditions are expected through Saturday. A clipper presses into the region tomorrow night, bringing back MVFR/IFR cigs and light snow, but is currently not reflected in this TAF cycle. Gusty N/NW winds diminish tonight, lessening below 15 kts this morning and afternoon.

MARINE

Issued at 451 AM EST Fri Feb 6 2026

In the wake of a cold front, north to northwest wind gusts in excess of 40 kt will occur over the eastern half of Lake Superior, with gales still likely (50+%) over the east half (except the far east). In ice-free areas of the east half, expect waves of 10-15 ft and heavy freezing spray today and tonight. High pressure will reduce winds below gales tonight and below 20 kt by Saturday afternoon. The next feature of note will be a clipper low that approaches northwestern Lake Superior Monday morning, kicking up wind gusts of near 25 kt on the east half Monday morning into Tuesday, though there is uncertainty in the track and timing of that low. Winds will fall below 20 kt late Wednesday as high pressure moves back over the Upper Great Lakes.

MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Upper Michigan... Winter Weather Advisory until 7 PM EST this evening for MIZ005.

Winter Weather Advisory until 7 AM EST Saturday for MIZ006-007- 014-085.

Lake Superior... Heavy Freezing Spray Warning until 7 PM EST this evening for LSZ242-263.

Gale Warning until 10 PM EST this evening for LSZ243>248-264- 265.

Heavy Freezing Spray Warning until 1 PM EST Saturday for LSZ243>251-264>267.

Gale Warning until 1 AM EST Saturday for LSZ249-250-266.

Gale Warning until 4 AM EST Saturday for LSZ251-267.

Lake Michigan... Gale Warning until 7 PM EST this evening for LMZ248-250.

Heavy Freezing Spray Warning until 7 PM EST this evening for LMZ248-250.