Karen Smith of Marquette sweeps snow from her Lake Street home on Friday. Blustery conditions are expected this weekend. (Journal photo by Christie Mastric)

By CHRISTIE MASTRIC

Journal Staff Writer

MARQUETTE — The timing of inclement weather coming into the Christmas weekend is unfortunate, to say the least.

But it’s coming, and people should have an idea of what is in the forecast and how to plan for it.

As of Friday afternoon, a blizzard warning was in effect for much of the Upper Peninsula through 7 tonight, with predictions of gusty winds expected to cause difficult travel conditions.

Lily Chapman, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service-Marquette in Negaunee Township, said gusts in the 30- 40-mph range were seen in the area on Friday, with gusts even higher close to the Lake Superior shoreline.

Blustery conditions, she said, are expected to continue into today.

“Those winds are going to be gradually falling back once we get into Saturday evening,” said Chapman, who noted that it will be calmer on Sunday. “We’ll still have maybe 20- to 30-mph gusts throughout the area into Sunday.”

Lingering lake-effect snow showers, she said, will continue today and taper off on Sunday.

“Because we have such blustery, steady winds, the lake effect could extend rather farther inland than we usually think about with lake effect, so even areas far inland and south as Iron Mountain, we’ve got some light snow accumulations into the weekend,” Chapman said. “Certainly not the foot-plus we were expecting across the Keweenaw.”

Snow totals for the southern part of Marquette County are estimated to be a few inches, but for the northern part of the county, she said, they could be in the foot-plus range.

Today should bring wind-chill temperatures below zero, with possible highs between 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit in the afternoon, Chapman said.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has announced plans for state and local preparedness for the winter storm.  

Residents should have a supply of essential items ready in advance to use during emergencies such as a power outage or being stranded in a vehicle, the Governor’s Office said in a news release. These supplies should be kept at home, at work and in vehicles for use during an emergency. 

The Michigan State Police is prepared to deploy additional troopers to assist motorists and has established lines of communication with local emergency management coordinators, the Red Cross and the Salvation Army. 

The Michigan Department of Transportation has plans to provide additional resources on freeways and other state-plowed roadways this weekend. MDOT has begun opening service garages to stock snowplows with fresh blades, new tires and plenty of salt. 

“We’ve been trying to keep the word out there,” Chapman said. “Just take it easy if you’re going to be on the roads at all. We would, obviously, prefer if people would maybe not drive if they don’t absolutely have to. You can get some pretty quick reductions in visibility.”

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.