000
CXUS53 KMQT 201405 AAC
CLMMQT

CLIMATE REPORT...FINAL
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MARQUETTE MI
905 AM EDT TUE NOV 20 2012

...................................

...THE MARQUETTE MI CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2012...

CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1961 TO 2012

WEATHER         OBSERVED          NORMAL  DEPART  LAST YEAR`S
                 VALUE   DATE(S)  VALUE   FROM    VALUE  DATE(S)
                                          NORMAL
................................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
 HIGH              87   10/02/1992
 LOW                9   10/23/1969
HIGHEST            72   10/03        51      21       81  10/08
LOWEST             21   10/29        34     -13       23  10/30
AVG. MAXIMUM     50.4              52.1    -1.7     56.4
AVG. MINIMUM     34.9              34.2     0.7     38.2
MEAN             42.6              43.2    -0.6     47.3
DAYS MAX >= 90      0               0.0     0.0        0
DAYS MAX <= 32      0               0.7    -0.7        0
DAYS MIN <= 32     13              13.4    -0.4       12
DAYS MIN <= 0       0               0.0     0.0        0

PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
 MAXIMUM         7.59   1979
 MINIMUM         0.94   1975
TOTALS           5.20              3.84    1.36     1.88
DAILY AVG.       0.17              0.12    0.05     0.06
DAYS >= .01        15              15.2    -0.2       14
DAYS >= .10        11               8.3     2.7        6
DAYS >= .50         2               2.2    -0.2        1
DAYS >= 1.00        1               0.9     0.1        0
GREATEST
 24 HR. TOTAL    2.21   10/25 TO 10/25

SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
 TOTAL           18.6   1979
TOTALS            6.1               6.0     0.1        T
SINCE 7/1         6.1               6.1     0.0        T
SNOWDEPTH AVG.      0                MM      MM        0
DAYS >= 1.0         2               1.7     0.3        0
GREATEST
 SNOW DEPTH         2   10/31                          0  MM
                        10/11
 24 HR TOTAL      3.6   10/30 TO 10/31

DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL     688               679       9      549
 SINCE 7/1       1139              1161     -22      924
COOLING TOTAL       0                 1      -1        6
 SINCE 1/1        345               242     103      324
.................................................................

WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED              MM
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION    MM        DATE   MM
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION    36/180    DATE  10/08

SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT)   MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER             MM
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR          MM
NUMBER OF DAYS PC            MM
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY        MM

AVERAGE RH (PERCENT)     MM

WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM              0     MIXED PRECIP               0
HEAVY RAIN                2     RAIN                       1
LIGHT RAIN               17     FREEZING RAIN              0
LT FREEZING RAIN          0     HAIL                       1
HEAVY SNOW                0     SNOW                       1
LIGHT SNOW                7     SLEET                      1
FOG                       8     FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE      0
HAZE                      0

-  INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R  INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T  INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.

&&

...OCTOBER 2012 MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR UPPER MICHIGAN...
(THIS DISCUSSION DOES NOT INCLUDE CHIPPEWA AND MACKINAC COUNTIES)

...MEAN MONTHLY TEMPERATURE NEAR TO A BIT BELOW NORMAL...

...ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION AT MOST PLACES...
...EIGHTH WETTEST OCTOBER AT THE MARQUETTE NWS...
...NINTH WETTEST OCTOBER AT MUNISING AND ONTONAGON...
...TENTH WETTEST OCTOBER AT NEWBERRY...

OCTOBER CLIMATE STATISTICS FOR THE MARQUETTE NWS IN NEGAUNEE TOWNSHIP

                                    NORMAL   DEPARTURE
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE         42.6     43.2  MINUS    0.6
AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE    50.4     52.1  MINUS    1.7
AVERAGE LOW TEMPERATURE     34.9     34.2   PLUS    0.7
HEATING DEGREE DAYS          688      679   PLUS      9
COOLING DEGREE DAYS            0        1  MINUS      1
TOTAL PRECIPITATION         5.20     3.84   PLUS   1.36
TOTAL SNOWFALL               6.1      6.0   PLUS    0.1

HIGHEST TEMPERATURE:                    72 ON 10/3
LOWEST TEMPERATURE:                     21 ON 10/29
GREATEST CALENDAR DAY PRECIPITATION:  2.21 ON 10/25
GREATEST 24 HOUR PRECIPITATION:       2.21 ON 10/25
GREATEST CALENDAR DAY SNOWFALL:        2.9 ON 10/30
GREATEST 24 HOUR SNOWFALL:             3.6 ON 10/30-10/31
PEAK WIND SPEED:     36 MPH FROM THE SOUTH ON 10/8

DAILY RECORD PRECIPITATION ON 10/25...2.21 (OLD RECORD 0.32...2001)
SECOND HIGHEST OCTOBER DAILY PRECIPITATION ON 10/25...2.21 (RECORD
                                                    2.89...10/4/1985)
DAILY RECORD SNOWFALL ON 10/31...2.9 (OLD RECORD 1.0...1962/88/93)
EIGHTH HIGHEST OCTOBER PRECIPITATION...5.20 (RECORD 7.59...1979)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
GREAT LAKES WATER LEVELS (FEET/METERS ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL)

                            LAKE SUPERIOR  LAKE MICHIGAN-HURON
10/01/12 DAILY MEAN         600.86/183.14     576.68/175.77
10/31/12 DAILY MEAN         600.97/183.17     576.42/175.70
AVG SEP 2012 DAILY MEAN     601.07/183.21     576.97/175.86
AVG OCT 2011 DAILY MEAN     601.08/183.21     577.70/176.08
LONG TERM OCT DAILY MEAN    602.10/183.51     578.90/176.44
MAXIMUM OCT DAILY MEAN      603.40/183.91     582.30/177.50
                                (1985)           (1986)
MINIMUM OCT DAILY MEAN      600.70/183.10     576.40/175.70
                                (1925)           (1964)

...RECORD LOW OCTOBER LAKE LEVEL REACHED ON LAKES MICHIGAN-HURON...

INCREASED EVAPORATION DUE TO VERY WARM LAKE WATERS HAS RESULTED IN
WELL BELOW NORMAL GREAT LAKES WATER LEVELS FOR THE PAST SEVERAL
YEARS. IN COMBINATION WITH DROUGHT THAT PLAGUED THE LOWER LAKES
THROUGH MUCH OF 2012...LAKES MICHIGAN-HURON REACHED A RECORD LOW
LEVEL FOR OCTOBER OF 176.39 FEET/175.68 METERS ON 10/30...A STAGE
THAT IS ABOUT 30 INCHES BELOW THE LONG TERM AVERAGE. SINCE
PRECIPITATION DURING RECENT MONTHS IN THE LAKE SUPERIOR DRAINAGE
BASIN HAS BEEN HEAVIER...THE LEVEL OF LAKE SUPERIOR ACTUALLY ROSE
ALMOST 5 INCHES THROUGH OCTOBER. HOWEVER...LAKE SUPERIOR WATER
LEVELS WERE STILL ABOUT 13 INCHES BELOW NORMAL AT THE END OF THE
MONTH.

OBTAIN GREAT LAKES WATER LEVEL DATA AS REPORTED BY THE U.S. ARMY
CORPS OF ENGINEERS AT
 HTTP://WWW.LRE.USACE.ARMY.MIL/GREATLAKES/HH/GREATLAKESWATERLEVELS/
        CURRENTCONDITIONS/GREATLAKESWATERLEVELS (ALL LOWER CASE).
---------------------------------------------------------------------
                      OCTOBER CLIMATE HIGHLIGHTS

HIGHEST REPORTED TEMPERATURE...78 JUST INLAND FROM ONTONAGON ON 10/3

LOWEST REPORTED TEMPERATURE...14 AT STAMBAUGH IN IRON COUNTY ON 10/12
                               AND 10/29

HIGHEST AVERAGE TEMPERATURE...47.4 DEGREES AT MARQUETTE CITY

LOWEST AVERAGE TEMPERATURE...40.4 DEGREES AT CLARKSBURG-CHAMPION
                              IN MARQUETTE COUNTY

HIGHEST MONTHLY PRECIPITATION...6.06 INCHES AT MUNISING

LOWEST MONTHLY PRECIPITATION...2.37 INCHES AT AMASA IN IRON COUNTY

HIGHEST MONTHLY SNOWFALL...14.4 INCHES AT HERMAN IN BARAGA COUNTY

A VERY CHANGEABLE WEATHER PATTERN PREVAILED DURING OCTOBER...WITH
ALTERNATING PERIODS OF WARM AND CHILLY WEATHER WHEN AN UPPER RIDGE
OR TROUGH DOMINATED THE EAST AND GREAT LAKES. SINCE THE TROUGH AND
COOLER WEATHER WERE A BIT MORE PERSISTENT...DOMINATING FROM 10/5
UNTIL 10/16 AND 10/26 THROUGH HALLOWEEN...THE MEAN OCTOBER
TEMPERATURE ENDED UP BELOW AVERAGE AT MOST SPOTS FOR A SECOND MONTH
IN A ROW...RANGING FROM NEARLY 2 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL OVER WESTERN
UPPER MICHIGAN TO NEAR NORMAL AT MARQUETTE AND NEWBERRY. THE AVERAGE
TEMPERATURE IN OCTOBER WAS ABOUT 9 TO 12 DEGREES LOWER THAN IN
SEPTEMBER. THE MERCURY REACHED THE BALMY 70S EVERY DAY FROM 10/1
THROUGH 10/4 BEFORE THE PASSAGE OF A STRONG COLD FRONT BROUGHT THE
FIRST MAJOR SHIFT IN PATTERN. AT LEAST A FEW OF THE INTERIOR COLD
SPOTS LOGGED A MINIMUM TEMPERATURE IN THE TEENS ON 10/8...10/12...
10/27...10/28 AND 10/29.

WITH THE CHANGING ACTIVE UPPER PATTERN OVER NORTH AMERICA...A NUMBER
OF LARGE SCALE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS AND THEIR ATTENDANT WARM AND
COLD FRONTS IMPACTED THE GREAT LAKES DURING OCTOBER. THE RESULT WAS
ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION AT MOST SPOTS. EXCEPT FOR SOME DRIER
LOCATIONS NEAR THE WISCONSIN BORDER...MOST SPOTS PICKED UP AT LEAST
4 INCHES OR MORE OF WATER EQUIVALENT PRECIPITATION DURING THE MONTH.
FOR THE SECOND MONTH IN A ROW...THE GREATEST TOTALS OCCURRED ACROSS
THE NORTH CENTRAL AROUND MUNISING...WHERE MOISTENING OFF LAKE
SUPERIOR ENHANCED THE PRECIPITATION. MUNISING REPORTED 6.06 INCHES
IN OCTOBER...NEARLY 150 PERCENT OF THE MEAN PRECIPITATION FOR THAT
LOCATION AND AFTER RECORDING 6.41 INCHES IN SEPTEMBER. THE ONLY
PLACES THAT MEASURED LESS THAN 3 INCHES AND 75 PERCENT OF NORMAL
PRECIPITATION WERE IN PORTIONS OF IRON COUNTY...FARTHER FROM THE
INFLUENCE OF LAKE SUPERIOR.

THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION IN OCTOBER OCCURRED ON 10/23 INTO
10/25...WHEN A DEEP SOUTHWEST FLOW BETWEEN A WESTERN TROUGH AND AN
EASTERN RIDGE ADVECTED A VERY WARM...MOIST AIRMASS INTO THE GREAT
LAKES. EXCEPT FOR THE SOUTHEAST...MOST PLACES PICKED UP 1 TO 2
INCHES OF RAIN DURING THIS 3-DAY PERIOD...WITH OVER 3 INCHES OF RAIN
NEAR WATERSMEET IN GOGEBIC COUNTY. SOME LOCATIONS REPORTED DAILY
RECORD RAINFALL ON SOME OF THESE DAYS...INCLUDING 2.21 INCHES AT
NEGAUNEE IN MARQUETTE COUNTY ON 10/25. SINCE THE AIRMASS WAS SO WARM
AND RELATIVELY UNSTABLE...THERE WERE ALSO A NUMBER OF THUNDERSTORMS
DURING THIS EVENT. SOME OF THE STRONGER STORMS DROPPED HAIL...
INCLUDING ONE THAT CAUSED QUARTER-SIZED HAIL AT NEGAUNEE IN THE
MORNING ON 10/25. ANOTHER DEEP LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING THROUGH
THE GREAT LAKES BROUGHT NEARLY 2 INCHES OF RAIN TO SOME PLACES NEAR
LAKE SUPERIOR EAST OF MARQUETTE ON 10/14 INTO 10/15.

MANY PLACES...ESPECIALLY OVER THE NORTH NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR...SAW THE
FIRST ACCUMULATING SNOWS OF THE SEASON IN OCTOBER. THE EARLIEST
EVENT WAS DURING THE NIGHT OF 10/5-10/6 INTO THE DAY ON 10/6...WHEN
A LOW PRESSURE TROUGH PASSING THROUGH THE UPPER GREAT LAKES CAUSED
ACCUMULATING SNOW OVER THE INTERIOR HIGHER TERRAIN. HERMAN IN BARAGA
COUNTY MEASURED 4.7 INCHES OF WET SNOW. HERMAN PICKED UP ANOTHER 5.3
INCHES OF THE WHITE STUFF DURING THE NIGHT ON 10/10-10/11 AS A
STRONG DISTURBANCE ROTATING THROUGH THE DEEP UPPER TROUGH IN THE
GREAT LAKES PASSED OVERHEAD AND DROPPED MORE ACCUMULATING SNOW OVER
THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF THE NORTH. WITH THE 10.0 INCHES OF SNOW AT
THAT LOCATION DURING THESE TWO EVENTS AND ANOTHER 4.4 INCHES THAT
FELL LATE IN THE MONTH AS THE REMNANTS OF SUPER STORM SANDY BACKED
TOWARD THE GREAT LAKES...HERMAN LED REPORTING SITES FOR TOTAL
OCTOBER SNOWFALL IN UPPER MICHIGAN.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
         ...JANUARY 2012-OCTOBER 2012 AVERAGE TEMPERATURE...

              OBSERVED NORMAL DEPARTURE PREVIOUS RECORD 2011-12 RANK
                                          /OR RECORD/

NEWBERRY        48.9    44.8    +4.1      48.9 /1998/  RECORD WARMEST

MARQUETTE NWS   47.1    43.2    +3.9      46.7 /2010/  RECORD WARMEST

MANISTIQUE      47.8    44.5    +3.3      47.3 /2010/  RECORD WARMEST

MUNISING        47.9    44.6    +3.3      47.4 /1998/  RECORD WARMEST
                                               /2010/

MARQUETTE CITY  50.1    46.0    +4.1      50.5 /1998/  SECOND WARMEST

IRON MOUNTAIN   49.6    45.6    +4.0      50.4 /1921/  SECOND WARMEST

IRONWOOD        47.3    43.4    +3.9      49.0 /1931/   THIRD WARMEST

HOUGHTON        47.1    43.4    +3.7      48.0 /1998/  FOURTH WARMEST
---------------------------------------------------------------------
SOME OTHER TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION OBSERVATIONS ACROSS UPPER
MICHIGAN IN OCTOBER 2012 INCLUDE:

IRONWOOD...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 41.8 (1.6 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL)
           PRECIPITATION 3.73 INCHES (0.25 INCH BELOW NORMAL)
           SNOWFALL 1.8 INCHES (4.8 INCHES BELOW NORMAL)

WATERSMEET (GOGEBIC COUNTY)...PRECIPITATION 4.84 INCHES
                              SNOWFALL 0.6 INCH

ONTONAGON...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 44.9 (1.9 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL)
 (6 MILES   PRECIPITATION 4.97 INCHES (1.47 INCHES ABOVE NORMAL)
  INLAND)   SNOWFALL TRACE (2.5 INCHES BELOW NORMAL)

ROCKLAND (ONTONAGON COUNTY)...SNOWFALL 2.3 INCHES

GREENLAND (ONTONAGON COUNTY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 43.6 DEGREES
                               PRECIPITATION 4.51 INCHES
                               SNOWFALL TRACE

BERGLAND DAM (ONTONAGON COUNTY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 41.4 DEGREES
                                  PRECIPITATION 4.63 INCHES
                                  SNOWFALL 2.5 INCHES

TWIN LAKES (HOUGHTON COUNTY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 41.9 DEGREES
                               PRECIPITATION 4.66 INCHES
                               SNOWFALL 0.8 INCH

HOUGHTON COUNTY...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 42.7 (0.7 DEGREE BELOW NORMAL)
 AIRPORT          PRECIPITATION 4.05 INCHES (1.06 INCHES ABOVE NORMAL)
                  SNOWFALL 3.2 INCHES (1.5 INCHES BELOW NORMAL)

ATLANTIC MINE (HOUGHTON COUNTY)...PRECIPITATION 4.48 INCHES
                                  SNOWFALL 3.0 INCHES


MOHAWK (KEWEENAW COUNTY)...PRECIPITATION 5.19 INCHES
                           SNOWFALL 1.8 INCHES

COPPER HARBOR...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 44.5 DEGREES
                PRECIPITATION 4.27 INCHES
                SNOWFALL TRACE

JACOBSVILLE (HOUGHTON COUNTY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 44.0 DEGREES
                                PRECIPITATION 4.55 INCHES
                                SNOWFALL 0.1 INCH

BARAGA...PRECIPITATION 4.34 INCHES
         SNOWFALL TRACE

WATTON (BARAGA COUNTY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 41.9 DEGREES
                         PRECIPITATION 3.93 INCHES
                         SNOWFALL 3.1 INCHES

HERMAN (BARAGA COUNTY)...SNOWFALL 13.8 INCHES

CLARKSBURG (MARQUETTE COUNTY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 40.4 DEGREES
                                PRECIPITATION 4.24 INCHES
                                SNOWFALL 5.5 INCHES

WITCH LAKE (MARQUETTE COUNTY)...SNOWFALL 3.0 INCHES

BIG BAY (MARQUETTE COUNTY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 45.3 DEGREES
                             PRECIPITATION 3.43 INCHES
                             SNOWFALL 0.4 INCH

MARQUETTE CITY...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 47.4 (0.1 DEGREE ABOVE NORMAL)
                 PRECIPITATION 4.54 INCHES (1.41 INCHES ABOVE NORMAL)
                 SNOWFALL TRACE (1.0 INCH BELOW NORMAL)

HARVEY (MARQUETTE COUNTY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 46.3 DEGREES
                            PRECIPITATION 4.53 INCHES
                            SNOWFALL TRACE

GWINN (MARQUETTE COUNTY)...SNOWFALL 4.4 INCHES

CHATHAM (ALGER COUNTY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 45.2 DEGREES
                         PRECIPITATION 5.55 INCHES
                         SNOWFALL 1.0 INCH

MUNISING...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 45.0 (0.6 DEGREE BELOW NORMAL)
           PRECIPITATION 6.06 INCHES (1.83 INCHES ABOVE NORMAL)
           SNOWFALL TRACE (1.4 INCHES BELOW NORMAL)

WETMORE (ALGER COUNTY)...PRECIPITATION 4.59 INCHES
                         SNOWFALL TRACE

NEWBERRY...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 45.4 (0.1 DEGREE ABOVE NORMAL)
           PRECIPITATION 5.41 INCHES (1.84 INCHES ABOVE NORMAL)
           SNOWFALL TRACE (1.2 INCHES BELOW NORMAL)

STAMBAUGH (IRON COUNTY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 40.9 DEGREES
                          PRECIPITATION 2.97 INCHES
                          SNOWFALL 0.8 INCH

AMASA (IRON COUNTY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 41.9 DEGREES
                      PRECIPITATION 2.37 INCHES
                      SNOWFALL 0.2 INCH

IRON MOUNTAIN...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 44.1 (0.9 DEGREE BELOW NORMAL)
                PRECIPITATION 3.69 INCHES (0.55 INCH ABOVE NORMAL)
                SNOWFALL TRACE (0.3 INCH BELOW NORMAL)

NORWAY (DICKINSON COUNTY)...PRECIPITATION 3.63 INCHES
                            SNOWFALL 0.1 INCH

MENOMINEE...PRECIPITATION 3.58 INCHES

GLADSTONE (DELTA COUNTY)...PRECIPITATION 4.56 INCHES
                           SNOWFALL TRACE

GARDEN CORNERS (DELTA COUNTY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 44.0 DEGREES
                                PRECIPITATION 4.30 INCHES
                                SNOWFALL TRACE

MANISTIQUE...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 44.9 (0.7 DEGREE BELOW NORMAL)
             PRECIPITATION 4.41 INCHES (1.09 INCH ABOVE NORMAL)
             SNOWFALL TRACE (0.2 INCH BELOW NORMAL)

                       OCTOBER WEATHER SUMMARY

A WARM SOUTHWEST FLOW BETWEEN A TROUGH IN WESTERN CANADA AND A RIDGE
OVER THE EAST DOMINATED THE UPPER GREAT LAKES ON 10/1 INTO 10/4...
BRINGING WEATHER MORE TYPICAL FOR LABOR DAY THAN EARLY OCTOBER TO
UPPER MICHIGAN. MEAN DAILY TEMPERATURES ON 10/1 THROUGH 10/4
AVERAGED 5 TO 10 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL.

THE PASSAGE OF A STRONG COLD FRONT LATER ON 10/4 WAS ACCOMPANIED BY
ONLY ISOLATED SHOWERS...BUT THE SURGE OF COLDER AIR ON THE HEELS OF
WEST WIND GUSTS UP TO 35 TO 45 MPH BEHIND THE FRONTAL PASSAGE
HERALDED A MAJOR CHANGE IN THE UPPER PATTERN THAT WOULD FEATURE A
DEEP TROUGH AND ACTIVE WEATHER IN THE NORTHERN GREAT LAKES UNTIL MID
MONTH. THE DAY-TO-DAY CONDITIONS IN THE WEEK FROM 10/5 INTO 10/12
WERE DOMINATED BY SEVERAL DISTURBANCES ROTATING THROUGH THE LARGER
TROUGH AND WHICH BROUGHT PERIODS OF RAIN SHOWERS. WITH THE ARRIVAL
OF COLDER AIR...THESE SHOWERS WERE MIXED WITH SNOW OVER THE HIGHER
TERRAIN OF THE INTERIOR. PRECIPITATION TENDED TO BE HEAVIEST NEAR
LAKE SUPERIOR BECAUSE THE WARM LAKE WATERS TENDED TO ENHANCE THE
INTENSITY OF THE SHOWERS CLOSE TO SUPERIOR. OVER AN INCH OF WATER
EQUIVALENT PRECIPITATION FELL AT MANY SPOTS IN THESE AREAS...
INCLUDING UP TO 1.47 INCHES AT MUNISING ON 10/5 INTO 10/12. GUSTY
WINDS ALSO FREQUENTLY BUFFETED LOCATIONS NEAR THE DESTABILIZING
INFLUENCE OF THE LAKES AS WELL. IN THE EVENING ON 10/8...PARENT BAY
ON THE LAKE MICHIGAN SHORE OF SCHOOLCRAFT COUNTY CLOCKED A SOUTH
WIND GUST UP TO 55 MPH AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH ONE
OF THESE DISTURBANCES.

MANY SPOTS OVER THE INTERIOR HIGHER TERRAIN ALSO REPORTED THEIR
FIRST ACCUMULATING SNOWS DURING THIS WEEK. THE EARLIEST EVENT WAS
DURING THE NIGHT OF 10/5-10/6 INTO THE DAY ON 10/6...WHEN HERMAN IN
BARAGA COUNTY MEASURED 4.7 INCHES OF WET SNOW. HERMAN PICKED UP
ANOTHER 5.3 INCHES OF THE WHITE STUFF DURING THE NIGHT ON
10/10-10/11 WHEN THE NEXT STRONG DISTURBANCE ROTATED THROUGH THE
DEEP UPPER TROUGH AND DROPPED MORE ACCUMULATING SNOW OVER THE HIGHER
TERRAIN OF THE NORTH.

ALTHOUGH THE UPPER TROUGH IN THE GREAT LAKES BEGAN TO WEAKEN AFTER
10/11...THE PASSAGE OF ANOTHER DEEP LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM THROUGH THE
GREAT LAKES ON 10/14 AND 10/15 BROUGHT ANOTHER ROUND OF HEAVY RAIN
TO UPPER MICHIGAN...MAINLY OVER THE CENTRAL AND EAST CLOSER TO THE
PATH OF THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM. DUE TO THE DESTABILIZING INFLUENCE
OF LAKE SUPERIOR...LOCATIONS NEAR THAT BODY OF WATER AND EAST OF
MARQUETTE SAW THE HEAVIEST RAIN IN EXCESS OF AN INCH THAT SET NEW
DAILY RECORD RAINFALL AT SOME LOCATIONS. UP TO 1.82 INCHES AND 1.77
INCHES OF RAIN FELL AT NEWBERRY AND WETMORE IN ALGER COUNTY
RESPECTIVELY ON 10/14 INTO 10/15. ACROSS THE SOUTH CENTRAL CLOSER TO
THE LOW TRACK...MENOMINEE PICKED UP 1.67 INCHES. OVER THE FAR
WEST...RAINFALL WAS GENERALLY NO MORE THAN 0.10 TO 0.25 INCH DURING
THIS EVENT. AS THE LOW PASSED JUST TO THE SOUTH OF UPPER MICHIGAN
LATE ON 10/14 AND THROUGH THE NIGHT OF 10/14-10/15...NORTH WINDS
GUSTED AS HIGH AS 35 TO 45 MPH NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR. MEAN DAILY
TEMPERATURES ON 10/13 THROUGH 10/15 AVERAGED FROM NEAR TO AS MUCH AS
10 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL ON 10/15....WHEN A CHILLY CANADIAN AIRMASS
SPILLED INTO THE UPPER GREAT LAKES IN THE WAKE OF THE DEPARTING LOW
PRESSURE SYSTEM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HEAVY RAIN.

AFTER 10/15...AN UPPER TROUGH BEGAN TO DEEPEN IN THE PLAINS. THE
STRENGTHENING SOUTHERLY FLOW AHEAD OF THIS FEATURE BROUGHT A RETURN
OF MUCH MILDER AIR THAT WOULD PERSIST FOR THE MOST PART THROUGH
10/25. SINCE THIS SOUTHERLY FLOW ALSO ADVECTED COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF
MOISTURE INTO THE GREAT LAKES...THERE WERE ALSO FREQUENT SHOWERS
WITH SOME PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN DURING THIS TIME.

AN APPROACHING WARM FRONT THAT MARKED THE LEADING EDGE OF THE WARMER
WEATHER BROUGHT A ROUND OF SHOWERS TO MUCH OF THE AREA ON 10/16.
PRECIPITATION TOTALS RANGED FROM AROUND 0.05 INCH OVER THE SOUTH
CENTRAL TO 0.25 TO 0.50 INCH OVER THE NORTHWEST. MOHAWK IN KEWEENAW
COUNTY LED REPORTING STATIONS WITH 0.54 INCH OF RAIN. WITH ABUNDANT
CLOUD COVER AND THE SHOWERS ON THE COOL SIDE OF THE WARM FRONT...
MEAN DAILY TEMPERATURES ON 10/16 WERE NEAR NORMAL.

MUCH WARMER AIR FOLLOWED THE WARM FRONTAL PASSAGE INTO THE GREAT
LAKES ON 10/17...WHEN MEAN DAILY TEMPERATURES ROSE TO 10 TO 15
DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE. THIS AIRMASS WAS ALSO DRIER...SO THERE WAS NO
RAIN MOST OF THE DAY ON 10/17 AFTER THE FRONT EXITED. THE DRYING WAS
SHORT-LIVED BECAUSE THE DEEPENING TROUGH MOVING SLOWLY EAST FROM THE
PLAINS IMPACTED THE GREAT LAKES ON 10/18 THROUGH 10/19. RAINFALL
TOTALS ON THESE TWO DAYS WERE GENERALLY 0.25 TO 1.00 INCH. SOME OF
THE HIGHER AMOUNTS WERE 1.27 INCHES AT GLADSTONE IN DELTA COUNTY...
1.15 INCHES AT BERGLAND DAM IN ONTONAGON COUNTY...1.13 INCHES AT
WATERSMEET IN GOGEBIC COUNTY...AND 1.12 INCHES AT GARDEN CORNERS IN
DELTA COUNTY. SINCE THE MOIST AIRMASS THAT SUPPORTED THIS RAIN WAS
ALSO RELATIVELY WARM...THE MERCURY AVERAGED ABOUT 5 DEGREES ABOVE
NORMAL ON 10/18 AND 10/19.

THE ONLY SUSTAINED DRY WEATHER FROM 10/16 THROUGH 10/25 OCCURRED ON
10/20 INTO 10/22...WHEN A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE MOVING THROUGH THE
GREAT LAKES IN THE WAKE OF THE DEPARTING TROUGH BROUGHT CLEAR TO
PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES AND SEASONABLE TEMPERATURES.

AS THE RIDGE MOVED PAST THE UPPER GREAT LAKES ON 10/22...AN UPPER
TROUGH DEEPENED AGAIN IN THE PLAINS...INCREASING THE SOUTH FLOW OF
WARM...MOIST AIR INTO THE GREAT LAKES AND SETTING THE STAGE FOR SOME
UNSEASONABLY STRONG CONVECTION AND RECORD RAINS ON 10/23 THROUGH
10/25. MEAN DAILY TEMPERATURES ON THESE THREE DAYS ROSE TO 10 TO 15
DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. THE FIRST WAVE OF RAIN AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS
AHEAD OF AN ADVANCING WARM FRONT HIT MAINLY WESTERN UPPER MICHIGAN
ON 10/23. AS MUCH AS 1.94 INCHES OF RAIN INUNDATED A LOCATION JUST
EAST OF HOUGHTON. BESIDES THE HEAVY RAIN OVER THE WEST...AREAS OF
DENSE FOG AHEAD OF THE WARM FRONT RESTRICTED VISIBILITY TO UNDER ONE
QUARTER MILE AT SOME LOCATIONS UNTIL THE FRONT PASSED TO THE NORTH
ON 10/25.

ANOTHER ROUND OF HEAVY RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS ARRIVED OVER THE WEST
LATE ON 10/24 AHEAD OF A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING NORTHEAST ON A
SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT JUST TO THE WEST. THUNDERSTORMS WERE EMBEDDED
IN THIS RAIN AREA...AND SOME OF THESE STORMS TURNED SEVERE IN THE
MORNING ON 10/25. THERE WERE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF SMALL HAIL...AND
SOME HAIL AS LARGE AS QUARTERS BOMBARDED NEGAUNEE IN MARQUETTE
COUNTY. TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS DROPPED 2 INCHES OR MORE OF RAIN AT
MANY PLACES IN JUST 12 TO 24 HOURS LATE ON 10/24 INTO 10/25. THE
HEAVIEST RAIN FELL OVER THE WEST...WHERE PRECIPITATION REACHED 3.50
INCHES AT MARENISCO IN GOGEBIC COUNTY...3.29 INCHES AT ROCKLAND IN
ONTONAGON COUNTY...AND 3.09 INCHES AT WATERSMEET. THE SOUTH CENTRAL
WAS THE ONLY AREA THAT SAW LESS THAN AN INCH OF RAIN DURING THIS
TIME. NO MORE THAN 0.50 TO 1.00 INCH FELL AT MOST PLACES THERE. ONCE
THE LOW PRESSURE CENTER RIDING NORTHEAST ALONG THE INCOMING COLD
FRONT PASSED INTO ONTARIO LATER ON 10/25...WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS
UP TO 35 TO 40 MPH DROVE THE COLD FRONT THROUGH UPPER MICHIGAN AND
OPENED THE DOOR TO ENOUGH COLD AIR TO CHANGE SOME OF THE LINGERING
SCATTERED RAIN SHOWERS TO SNOW OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF THE WEST.

A DEEP UPPER TROUGH DOMINATED THE GREAT LAKES ON 10/26 THROUGH
HALLOWEEN AS MUCH COLDER AIR FOLLOWED THE DEPARTING LOW INTO EASTERN
UNITED STATES. OVER UPPER MICHIGAN...THE THERMOMETER READ AROUND 5
DEGREES BELOW NORMAL DURING THESE LAST 6 DAYS OF OCTOBER. SCATTERED
RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS LINGERED NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR INTO 10/27...BUT
THE ARRIVAL OF HIGH PRESSURE BROUGHT A DRIER PERIOD ON 10/28 INTO
EARLY 10/30. BEGINNING ON 10/30...THE REMNANTS OF SUPER STORM SANDY
THAT DEVASTATED PARTS OF THE MID-ATLANTIC STATES BEGAN TO IMPACT
EASTERN UPPER MICHIGAN AS THE LOW PRESSURE CENTER MOVED INTO
SOUTHEAST ONTARIO. A GUSTY NORTH WIND AS HIGH AS 40-50 MPH BUFFETED
AREAS OVER THE EAST NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR ON 10/30 INTO 10/31 BEFORE
THE LOW WEAKENED SUFFICIENTLY. SHOWERS OF RAIN AND SNOW ALSO FELL
MAINLY OVER THE EAST AND NORTH CENTRAL ON 10/30 THROUGH HALLOWEEN AS
THE DEEP MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH SANDY BACKED WEST INTO THE UPPER
LAKES. WATER EQUIVALENT PRECIPITATION FROM THE HURON MOUNTAINS EAST
THROUGH NEWBERRY WAS 0.10 TO 0.50 INCH AT MOST PLACES ON 10/30
THROUGH 10/31. MUNISING AND CHATHAM IN ALGER COUNTY TOPPED THE LIST
WITH 0.78 AND 0.69 INCH RESPECTIVELY. WHILE MOST PLACES WERE TOO
WARM TO SEE SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATION...A FEW INCHES OF SNOW
ACCUMULATED OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF THE NORTH CENTRAL. HERMAN SAW
4.4 INCHES OF THE WHITE STUFF. THERE WAS LITTLE IF ANY PRECIPITATION
ALONG THE WISCONSIN BORDER FROM IRONWOOD TO IRON RIVER...IRON
MOUNTAIN AND MENOMINEE.

                        DECEMBER FORECAST

THE CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER (CPC) IS FORECASTING A GREATER THAN
CLIMATOLOGICAL CHANCE OF A BELOW NORMAL MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
OVER WESTERN UPPER MICHIGAN BUT AN EQUAL CHANCE OF AN ABOVE AND
BELOW NORMAL MEAN TEMPERATURE OVER THE REST OF THE UPPER PENINSULA
IN DECEMBER 2012. THE CPC FORECAST SHOWS AN EQUAL CHANCE OF ABOVE
AND BELOW NORMAL PRECIPITATION OVER ALL OF UPPER MICHIGAN IN
DECEMBER.

                      DECEMBER CLIMATOLOGY

TEMPERATURES CONTINUE THEIR DOWNWARD SLIDE IN DECEMBER AS WINTER
ARRIVES IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE.  AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPERATURES IN
DECEMBER ACROSS UPPER MICHIGAN ARE AS MUCH AS 12 DEGREES LOWER THAN
IN NOVEMBER AS TOTAL POSSIBLE SUNSHINE DECLINES TO 514 MINUTES
AROUND THE WINTER SOLSTICE. WINTER OFFICIALLY BEGINS THIS YEAR AT
6:12 AM EST ON 12/21. ON THAT DAY...THE SUN RISES TO ONLY ABOUT 20
DEGREES ABOVE THE SOUTHERN HORIZON AT LOCAL NOON IN UPPER MICHIGAN.

ARCTIC INVASIONS ARE COMMON ACROSS THE NORTHWEST GREAT LAKES IN
DECEMBER...RESULTING IN CONSIDERABLE CLOUD COVER AND LAKE EFFECT
SNOW. AS THE COLD AIR PASSES OVER THE RELATIVELY WARM WATERS OF LAKE
SUPERIOR...THE AIRMASS BECOMES INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE. THE RESULT IS
A GREATER FREQUENCY OF LOW CLOUD AND SNOW SHOWERS...WHICH ARE
TYPICALLY HEAVIER AND MORE WIDESPREAD OVER HIGHER TERRAIN JUST
DOWNWIND OF LAKE SUPERIOR. THE LOCATION OF MAXIMUM SNOWFALL IS VERY
DEPENDENT ON THE LOW LEVEL WIND DIRECTION BECAUSE THE LONGEST WIND
FETCH ACROSS THE WATER RESULTS IN GREATEST DESTABILIZATION. A WEST
WIND FAVORS THE KEWEENAW PENINSULA; A NORTHWEST WIND USUALLY RESULTS
IN HEAVIER SNOW AROUND ONTONAGON AND IN ALGER AND LUCE COUNTIES; AND
A NORTH TO NORTHEAST WIND CAUSES THE HEAVIEST SNOW AROUND IRONWOOD
AND IN THE NORTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OF BARAGA AND MARQUETTE COUNTIES.
ALTHOUGH LARGE SCALE STORM SYSTEMS THAT TYPICALLY MOVE NORTHEAST
FROM THE PLAINS STATES INTO THE GREAT LAKES CAN ALSO BRING HEAVY
SNOW TO INLAND LOCATIONS...AVERAGE DECEMBER PRECIPITATION IS QUITE A
BIT LESS AWAY FROM LAKE SUPERIOR.  FOR INSTANCE...THE HOUGHTON
COUNTY AIRPORT PICKS UP 52.9 INCHES OF SNOW AND 3.25 INCHES OF
LIQUID EQUIVALENT PRECIPITATION DURING A TYPICAL DECEMBER. IRON
MOUNTAIN WILL RECEIVE ONLY 14.7 INCHES OF SNOW AND 1.48 INCHES OF
LIQUID EQUIVALENT PRECIPITATION ON AVERAGE. THE HOUGHTON COUNTY
AIRPORT WAS BURIED UNDER 119 INCHES OF SNOW IN DECEMBER 1978. RECORD
SNOWS AT INLAND LOCATIONS ARE CLOSER TO 36 INCHES. IN MORE RECENT
YEARS...HEAVY SNOW FELL IN DECEMBER IN 2008...2000...1996 AND 1995
AT MANY LOCATIONS. ROCKLAND IN ONTONAGON COUNTY MEASURED 127 INCHES
OF THE WHITE STUFF IN DECEMBER 2000. IN DECEMBER 2008...TWIN LAKES
IN HOUGHTON COUNTY LOGGED ALMOST 106 INCHES.

ALTHOUGH LAKE SUPERIOR OFTEN MODERATES THE CHILL OF THE ARCTIC
AIR...BELOW ZERO READINGS ARE COMMON DURING THE TWELFTH MONTH.
RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES ARE AS LOW AS 36 BELOW ZERO AT IRONWOOD...
OBSERVED DURING A BRUTAL COLD SNAP IN MID DECEMBER 1983 THAT ALSO
DROPPED THE TEMPERATURE TO A MONTHLY RECORD 28 BELOW ZERO AT THE
MARQUETTE NWS. THE LOWEST TEMPERATURES RECORDED AT MANY LOCATIONS IN
UPPER MICHIGAN OCCURRED DURING AN ARCTIC OUTBREAK AT THE END OF
DECEMBER 1976...INCLUDING 26 BELOW ZERO AT IRON MOUNTAIN...25 BELOW
ZERO AT MANISTIQUE...21 BELOW ZERO AT MUNISING AND 15 BELOW ZERO AT
THE HOUGHTON COUNTY AIRPORT. DECEMBER 1985 AND DECEMBER 1989 ALSO
SAW FREQUENT ARCTIC INVASIONS WITH MONTHLY TEMPERATURES AVERAGING AS
MUCH 10 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL. A COLD WAVE ARRIVED IN DECEMBER 2004
JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS. MORNING LOWS ON CHRISTMAS DAY THAT YEAR FELL
AS LOW AS 34 BELOW ZERO AT CHAMPION IN MARQUETTE COUNTY.

DECEMBER 1994 GOES DOWN IN THE RECORD BOOKS AS ONE OF THE WARMEST
AND LEAST SNOWY IN UPPER MICHIGAN HISTORY WITH TEMPERATURES AS MUCH
AS 10 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL AND MANY PLACES PICKING UP LESS THAN 10
INCHES OF TOTAL SNOW. THE MARQUETTE NWS AND NEWBERRY ALL OBSERVED
THEIR WARMEST DECEMBER EVER. ALTHOUGH BROWN CHRISTMASES ARE RARE IN
UPPER MICHIGAN (BEFORE 1994 DOWNTOWN MARQUETTE OBSERVED A BROWN
CHRISTMAS IN 1923...1931... 1941...1946...1957 AND 1982)...MANY
LOCATIONS THAT YEAR HAD LITTLE IF ANY SNOW ON THE GROUND TO GREET
SANTA CLAUS. TEMPERATURES ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY IN 1994
WERE NEAR 50 OR EVEN HIGHER AT IRONWOOD...IRON MOUNTAIN... NEWBERRY
AND MARQUETTE. MANY RECENT DECEMBERS HAVE ALSO BEEN ON THE MILD
SIDE. IN DECEMBER 2006...MONTHLY TEMPERATURES AVERAGED 5 TO 8
DEGREES ABOVE THE MEAN ACROSS UPPER MICHIGAN...AND THE MONTH ENDED
UP AS THE WARMEST DECEMBER ON RECORD AT THE HOUGHTON COUNTY AIRPORT.
SINCE SNOWFALL OVER MUCH OF UPPER MICHIGAN WAS ALSO BELOW NORMAL...
MANY AREAS EAST OF CRYSTAL FALLS AND THE HURON MOUNTAINS SAW A BROWN
CHRISTMAS IN 2006. DECEMBER 2001 WAS THE WARMEST ON RECORD AT
MUNISING...MANISTIQUE...AND ONTONAGON. ON 12/5/2001...RARE DECEMBER
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FORMED IN A RECORD WARM AIRMASS AHEAD OF A COLD
FRONT AND PUMMELED IRON AND DICKINSON COUNTIES WITH LARGE HAIL.
IRON MOUNTAIN RECORDED ITS WARMEST DECEMBER IN 1997. THE FIRST
SEVERAL DAYS OF DECEMBER 1998 FEATURED RECORD WARMTH. MONTHLY RECORD
HIGH TEMPERATURES WERE SET AT IRON MOUNTAIN (64 ON 12/4)...IRONWOOD
(59 ON 12/4)...MANISTIQUE (59 ON 12/1) AND THE MARQUETTE NWS (59 ON
12/3). BUT THE ARRIVAL OF COLDER AIR AND HEAVY SNOW THE LAST HALF OF
DECEMBER 1998 PREVENTED THE MONTH FROM GOING DOWN AS ONE OF THE
WARMEST ON RECORD. ALTHOUGH DECEMBER 2002 STARTED ON A COLD
NOTE...TEMPERATURES THE LAST THREE WEEKS OF THE MONTH AVERAGED 10
DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. MANY PLACES NOT IMPACTED BY LAKE EFFECT SNOW
HAD A BROWN CHRISTMAS IN 2002.

                        OUTLOOK FOR WINTER

THE CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER (CPC) IS FORECASTING A GREATER THAN
CLIMATOLOGICAL CHANCE OF A BELOW NORMAL 3-MONTH AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
OVER WEST AND CENTRAL UPPER MICHIGAN BUT AN EQUAL CHANCE OF AN ABOVE
AND BELOW NORMAL MEAN TEMPERATURE OVER THE EASTERN UPPER PENINSULA
IN DECEMBER 2012 THROUGH FEBRUARY 2013. THE CPC FORECAST SHOWS AN
EQUAL CHANCE OF ABOVE AND BELOW NORMAL PRECIPITATION OVER ALL OF
UPPER MICHIGAN IN DECEMBER THROUGH FEBRUARY.

GO TO HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/CLIMATE/L3MTO.PHP TO ACCESS DETAILED
LOCAL THREE-MONTH AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OUTLOOKS FOR A NUMBER OF SITES
IN UPPER MICHIGAN.

CHECK OUT HTTP://WWW.CPC.NCEP.NOAA.GOV FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
THE CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER AND MORE LONG RANGE PREDICTIONS.

NOTE THAT STATISTICS FOR THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN
NEGAUNEE TOWNSHIP ARE BASED ON RECORDS WHICH BEGAN IN OCTOBER 1961.
THIRTY YEAR NORMALS USED ARE FOR THE PERIOD OF 1981 THROUGH 2010.
NOTE ALL TEMPERATURES ARE IN FAHRENHEIT AND PRECIPITATION IS IN
INCHES. ALL CLIMATE DATA LISTED IN THIS PRODUCT ARE UNOFFICIAL. FOR
OFFICIAL DATA...PLEASE REFER TO THE NATIONAL CLIMATIC DATA CENTER.
ALSO NOTE THIS DISCUSSION DOES NOT INCLUDE DATA FROM CHIPPEWA AND
MACKINAC COUNTIES.

NWS MARQUETTE WEB PAGE IS AT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/MQT (ALL LOWER
CASE). CONTACT THE NATIONAL CLIMATIC DATA CENTER AT (828) 271-4800
OR WWW.NCDC.NOAA.GOV.

$$

KC