Karl Bohnak, Journal contributor

The progression toward the cold season continues. The fall colors are now past peak. There have been multiple hard freezes in some locations and the first measurable snow fell at the National Weather Service near Negaunee on October 7.

At times, genuine winter will visit the U.P. in mid-October. One such October was in 1925. It was one of the coldest tenth months in history. The mean temperature in Marquette was nearly nine degrees below average. A winter storm “unprecedented in this territory” began on Sunday afternoon, October 18.

The headline in the paper on the 19th read, “Storm Isolates Marquette.” While mostly rain and mixed precipitation fell in the city, wet snow brought down telephone and telegraph lines to the west and south of town. Six to eight inches of snow fell in Negaunee and Ishpeming. To the west of Ishpeming, up to a foot of snow piled up. That’s where the early blast of winter led to tragedy. Two teenagers out for a hike, lost their way in the heavy snow and were forced to spend the night without shelter. One of the boys died, while another suffered severe frost bite and had to have portions of his legs amputated.

October 1925 ended with monthly record lows, which included 14 at Marquette, 12 at Houghton and 8 above at Iron Mountain.

The days ahead look chilly and unsettled. An upper-air trough will linger over the Great Lakes bringing below average temperatures with off and on rain and even some snow.