Or you might not want to travel at all.

An ice storm warning is in effect until 7 tonight for Marquette, Alger, Delta, Dickinson and Menominee counties, although icy conditions as of early this morning already resulted in school and government closings as well as hazardous travel.

Matt Zika, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Negaunee Township, said that although heavier rain was to taper off in the area early this afternoon, the problem is the temperature will plummet by late evening.

“Everything’s going to stay completely frozen at least until (Tuesday) and beyond,” Zika said.

People having to scrape the ice off their windshields was a common occurrence this morning because of the unusual weather conditions. An ice storm warning is in effect until 7 p.m. today. (Journal photo by Corey Kelley)

That means there’s “no hope,” he said, of ice melting soon.

Zika said the region is coming out of last week’s extremely frigid temperatures, so the ground still is cold. However, temperatures now are above freezing 2,000 to 3,000 feet high in the atmosphere.

“As snow falls through that warm layer and melts, there’s not enough cold air near the ground for the raindrops to refreeze until they contact the ground, which is leading to everything being covered in a sheet of ice,” Zika said.

He pointed out the icy conditions are atypical for the Upper Peninsula.

“It’s very hard for us to get full-fledged ice conditions like we’re seeing here in the U.P.,” Zika said.

Ice covers a lawn early today in Marquette Township. (Journal photo by Bud Sargent)

That scenario, he stressed, will make traveling treacherous, with ice lingering even after the rain ends to make commutes hazardous.

“So folks need to keep that in mind,” Zika said. “It’s going to be pretty icy for a couple of days.”

The NWS’s ice storm warning indicates significant icing is expected, with moderate to heavy freezing, rain and sleet. Total ice accumulations of a quarter-inch to a half-inch are expected, with lesser amounts expected near Menominee. Total snow accumulations of up to 3 inches are possible over northern Marquette County.

Power outages and falling tree branches are possible because of the ice. Temperatures also will fall into the teens and single digits from northwest to southeast this evening, causing a flash freeze.

An ice storm warning means significant amounts of ice accumulation will make travel dangerous or impossible, and travel is strongly discouraged. If people must travel, they are urged to take extra precautions by driving slowly, not braking suddenly and allowing ample time to reach their destinations.

Many closures were announced for this morning, including Marquette offices at city hall and Lakeview Arena, Chocolay Township offices, the Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter and the Women’s Center Inc.

Area schools, including Northern Michigan University, Marquette Area Public Schools, Ishpeming Public Schools, Negaunee Public Schools and NICE Community Schools as well as North Star Montessori Academy, were closed, according to their Facebook pages.

NMU was to have made a decision regarding evening classes by 2 p.m.

Marquette County’s courthouse and jail complex curtailed operations today because of the severe weather conditions. Only those employees listed on the workforce reduction roster were to have reported to work.

All circuit, district and probate hearings were canceled and will be rescheduled.