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Climatological Report (Monthly)
Issued by NWS Marquette, MI
Issued by NWS Marquette, MI
000 CXUS53 KMQT 291416 AAD CLMMQT CLIMATE REPORT...FINAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MARQUETTE MI 1017 AM EDT SAT APR 29 2017 ................................... ...THE MARQUETTE MI CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2017... CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010 CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1961 TO 2017 WEATHER OBSERVED NORMAL DEPART LAST YEAR`S VALUE DATE(S) VALUE FROM VALUE DATE(S) NORMAL ................................................................ TEMPERATURE (F) RECORD HIGH 81 03/21/2012 LOW -30 03/03/2003 HIGHEST 52 03/28 33 19 61 03/12 LOWEST -13 03/04 14 -27 -11 03/03 AVG. MAXIMUM 32.3 34.7 -2.4 39.2 AVG. MINIMUM 16.3 13.8 2.5 19.5 MEAN 24.3 24.2 0.1 29.3 DAYS MAX >= 90 0 0.0 0.0 0 DAYS MAX <= 32 16 12.8 3.2 10 DAYS MIN <= 32 30 29.2 0.8 27 DAYS MIN <= 0 3 4.4 -1.4 4 PRECIPITATION (INCHES) RECORD MAXIMUM 6.08 1979 MINIMUM 0.28 2010 TOTALS 1.84 3.03 -1.19 3.34 DAILY AVG. 0.06 0.10 -0.04 0.11 DAYS >= .01 17 14.5 2.5 12 DAYS >= .10 7 7.2 -0.2 6 DAYS >= .50 1 1.4 -0.4 3 DAYS >= 1.00 0 0.6 -0.6 1 GREATEST 24 HR. TOTAL 0.52 03/01 TO 03/01 SNOWFALL (INCHES) RECORDS TOTAL 83.1 2002 TOTALS 19.9 34.9 -15.0 18.8 SINCE 7/1 141.0 187.3 -46.3 118.9 SNOWDEPTH AVG. 9 21 -12 12 DAYS >= 1.0 6 7.2 -1.2 6 GREATEST SNOW DEPTH 16 03/03 25 03/06 03/05 24 HR TOTAL 6.2 03/01 TO 03/01 DEGREE_DAYS HEATING TOTAL 1252 1263 -11 1096 SINCE 7/1 6936 7887 -951 6863 COOLING TOTAL 0 0 0 0 SINCE 1/1 0 0 0 0 ................................................................. WIND (MPH) AVERAGE WIND SPEED MM HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION MM DATE MM HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 52/225 DATE 03/07 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 1 HEAVY RAIN 0 RAIN 1 LIGHT RAIN 8 FREEZING RAIN 0 LT FREEZING RAIN 8 HAIL 1 HEAVY SNOW 0 SNOW 4 LIGHT SNOW 20 SLEET 2 FOG 8 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE 3 HAZE 0 - INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS. R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED. MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING. T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT. && ...MARCH 2017 MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR UPPER MICHIGAN... /THIS DISCUSSION DOES NOT INCLUDE CHIPPEWA AND MACKINAC COUNTIES/ ...BELOW NORMAL SNOWFALL... ...EIGHTH LOWEST MARCH SNOWFALL AT IRONWOOD... ...BELOW NORMAL PRECIPITATION AT MOST PLACES... ...NEAR TO SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE... MARCH CLIMATE STATISTICS FOR THE MARQUETTE NWS IN NEGAUNEE TOWNSHIP NORMAL DEPARTURE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 24.3 24.2 PLUS 0.1 AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE 32.3 34.7 MINUS 2.4 AVERAGE LOW TEMPERATURE 16.3 13.8 PLUS 2.5 HEATING DEGREE DAYS 1252 1263 MINUS 11 COOLING DEGREE DAYS 0 0 0 TOTAL PRECIPITATION 1.84 3.03 MINUS 1.19 TOTAL SNOWFALL 19.9 34.9 MINUS 15.0 HIGHEST TEMPERATURE: 52 ON 3/28 LOWEST TEMPERATURE: -13 ON 3/4 GREATEST CALENDAR DAY PRECIPITATION: 0.52 ON 3/1 GREATEST 24 HOUR PRECIPITATION: 0.52 ON 3/1 GREATEST CALENDAR DAY SNOWFALL: 6.2 ON 3/1 GREATEST 24 HOUR SNOWFALL: 6.2 ON 3/1 GREATEST SNOW DEPTH: 16 ON 3/3 PEAK WIND SPEED: 52 MPH FROM THE SOUTHWEST ON 3/7 NO NEW DAILY OR MONTHLY RECORDS ESTABLISHED IN MARCH 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------- ...AUGUST THROUGH MARCH VERY WARM AT THE MARQUETTE NWS... AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OBSERVED NORMAL DEPARTURE RECORD RANK MARQUETTE NWS 36.8 33.3 +3.5 38.5 /2011-12/ 3RD WARMEST --------------------------------------------------------------------- GREAT LAKES WATER LEVELS (FEET/METERS ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL) LAKE SUPERIOR LAKE MICHIGAN-HURON 03/01/17 DAILY MEAN 601.79/183.43 579.10/176.51 03/31/17 DAILY MEAN 601.60/183.37 579.25/176.56 AVG FEB 2017 DAILY MEAN 601.80/183.43 578.99/176.47 AVG MAR 2016 DAILY MEAN 601.91/183.46 579.42/176.61 LONG TERM MAR DAILY MEAN 601.15/183.23 578.41/176.30 MAXIMUM MAR DAILY MEAN 602.40/183.61 581.10/177.12 (1986) (1986) MINIMUM MAR DAILY MEAN 599.54/182.74 576.05/175.58 (1926) (1964) ...WATER LEVELS REMAIN ABOVE NORMAL IN MARCH... EVEN THOUGH THE OBSERVED LAKE SUPERIOR WATER LEVEL FELL AGAIN DURING MARCH, THE WELL ABOVE NORMAL WATER LEVELS AT THE END OF LAST SUMMER ENSURED THE LAKE LEVEL REMAINED ABOVE AVERAGE THROUGH 3/31. AT THE END OF MARCH, WATER LEVELS ON LAKE SUPERIOR WERE 5 TO 6 INCHES ABOVE NORMAL BUT AROUND AN INCH LOWER THAN OBSERVED IN MARCH 2016. THE LEVEL ON LAKES MICHIGAN AND HURON ACTUALLY ROSE THROUGH MARCH SO THAT AT THE END OF THE MONTH THE LEVEL WAS ABOUT 10 INCHES ABOVE NORMAL BUT AROUND AN INCH LOWER THAN IN MARCH 2016. DUE TO THE OVERALL WINTER WARMTH ACROSS THE UPPER GREAT LAKES, ICE COVER ON LAKE SUPERIOR AND LAKES MICHIGAN-HURON IN MARCH WAS RESTRICTED TO THE SHELTERED BAYS ALONG THE SHORES OF THESE GREAT LAKES. EXCEPT FOR AROUND WHITEFISH BAY, MOST OF THIS ICE MELTED LATE IN 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/MISSIONS/GREATLAKESINFORMATION/ GREATLAKESWATERLEVELS/CURRENTCONDITIONS.ASPX. --------------------------------------------------------------------- MARCH CLIMATE HIGHLIGHTS HIGHEST REPORTED TEMPERATURE...60 AT IRON MOUNTAIN, WAKEFIELD IN GOGEBIC COUNTY, KENTON IN HOUGHTON COUNTY, AND LABRANCHE IN MENOMINEE COUNTY ON 3/28 LOWEST REPORTED TEMPERATURE...-18 AT AMASA IN IRON COUNTY AND CLARKSBURG IN MARQUETTE COUNTY ON 3/4 HIGHEST AVERAGE TEMPERATURE...27.6 DEGREES AT NORWAY IN DICKINSON COUNTY LOWEST AVERAGE TEMPERATURE...21.0 DEGREES AT HERMAN IN BARAGA COUNTY HIGHEST MONTHLY PRECIPITATION...2.69 INCHES AT GRAND MARAIS IN ALGER COUNTY LOWEST MONTHLY PRECIPITATION...0.77 INCH AT JACOBSVILLE IN HOUGHTON COUNTY HIGHEST MONTHLY SNOWFALL...22.9 INCHES AT GRAND MARAIS LOWEST MONTHLY SNOWFALL...2.3 INCHES AT IRON MOUNTAIN GREATEST MONTHLY SNOW DEPTH...39 INCHES AT GRAND MARAIS ON 3/3 AS HAS BEEN THE CASE FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, THE MARCH 2017 WEATHER PATTERN ACROSS THE UPPER GREAT LAKES WAS A VERY CHANGEABLE ONE WITH ALTERNATING BOUTS OF UNSEASONABLY COLD AND WARM WEATHER. SINCE THE TEMPERATURE EXTREMES TENDED TO BALANCE OUT, THE OBSERVED MEAN MARCH AVERAGE TEMPERATURE BETWEEN 21 AND 28 DEGREES ENDED UP NEAR TO A BIT BELOW NORMAL ACROSS THE UPPER PENINSULA. EVEN THOUGH MARCH IS TYPICALLY 8 TO 10 DEGREES WARMER THAN FEBRUARY, MARCH 2017 ENDED UP ONLY 1 TO 3 DEGREES WARMER THAN THE MONTH BEFORE DUE TO THE UNSEASONABLE WARMTH OBSERVED IN FEBRUARY 2017. ALTHOUGH SOME PLACES OVER MAINLY THE SOUTHEAST PORTION OF UPPER MICHIGAN SAW ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION IN MARCH, FEWER DEEP LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS IMPACTED THE UPPER LAKES. SO MONTHLY PRECIPITATION ENDED UP BELOW AVERAGE AT MOST LOCATIONS. LESS THAN AN INCH OF LIQUID EQUIVALENT PRECIPITATION FELL IN A SWATH OVER THE WEST, INCLUDING ONLY 0.77 INCH AT JACOBSVILLE IN HOUGHTON COUNTY AND 0.80 INCH AT BARAGA. THESE TOTALS ARE ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF NORMAL. MANISTIQUE REPORTED 2.52 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION, ABOUT 140 PERCENT OF THE MARCH AVERAGE, DUE TO SOME HEAVIER RAINS THAT OCCURRED IN THAT AREA DURING THE FOURTH WEEK OF THE MONTH. A TOTAL OF 1.34 INCHES OF RAIN, OVER HALF THE MONTHLY PRECIPITATION TOTAL, FELL AT MANISTIQUE FROM LATE ON 3/23 THROUGH 3/26 AS A SERIES OF LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS TRACKED ALONG A STALLED FRONT IN THE CENTRAL GREAT LAKES. AT SOME COLDER PLACES, THIS RAIN HAPPENED WHEN SURFACE TEMPERATURES WERE BELOW 32, RESULTING IN FREEZING RAIN AND SOME ICING. EVEN WHERE MARCH PRECIPITATION WAS ABOVE NORMAL OVER THE SOUTHEAST, MONTHLY SNOWFALL ENDED UP BELOW AVERAGE AT MOST PLACES ACROSS UPPER MICHIGAN AS THE HEAVIER PRECIPITATION FELL MAINLY AS RAIN. ONLY 2.3 INCHES AND 5.3 INCHES FELL THE WHOLE MONTH AT IRON MOUNTAIN AND IRONWOOD RESPECTIVELY, ABOUT 20 PERCENT OF NORMAL AT BOTH SITES. THE MONTHLY SNOWFALL AT IRONWOOD WAS THE EIGHTH LOWEST MARCH TOTAL ON RECORD. ONE AREA THAT DID SEE NEAR NORMAL SNOW WAS EAST OF MARQUETTE NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR DUE TO SOME HEAVIER LAKE EFFECT SNOWS THAT OCCURRED DURING COLD AIR OUTBREAKS THE FIRST HALF OF MARCH. GRAND MARAIS IN ALGER COUNTY PICKED UP ALMOST 23 INCHES OF SNOW. ALL BUT 3 INCHES OF THIS TOTAL ACCUMULATED BEFORE 3/14. DURING THE FIRST ARCTIC AIR INVASION, A FEW LOCATIONS SAW THE MERCURY DIP TO UNDER -10 DURING THE MORNING ON 3/3 AND 3/4, INCLUDING THE MONTHLY MINIMUM READING OF -18 AT AMASA IN IRON COUNTY AND CLARKSBURG IN MARQUETTE COUNTY ON 3/4. AFTER THIS ARCTIC AIR RETREATED QUICKLY TO THE EAST, A SURGE OF WARMER AIR LIFTED TEMPERATURES INTO THE 50S AT SOME PLACES ON 3/6 AND 3/7. AT MANY PLACES, THIS UNSEASONABLE WARMTH RESULTED IN A COMPLETE MELTING OF THE WINTER SNOW PACK. THE PASSAGE OF A COLD FRONT ON 3/7 THAT CAUSED WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH AND EVEN AS HIGH AS 71 MPH NEAR GERMFASK IN SCHOOLCRAFT COUNTY ENDED THIS SPRING-LIKE WARMTH. AS ARCTIC AIR SLOWLY FILTERED INTO THE UPPER LAKES FOLLOWING SOME REINFORCING COLD FRONTS, HIGH TEMPERATURES ON 3/10 FAILED TO REACH 10 AT A FEW LOCATIONS. THERE WERE MORE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE REPORTS OF -10 OR LOWER ON 3/14 AND 3/15 AS THE CORE OF THE COLD AIRMASS MOVED OVERHEAD. AFTER A SLOW MODERATION, SOME LOCATIONS SAW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES CLIMB INTO THE 50S ON 3/20, 3/28, 3/29 AND 3/31. THE WARMEST DAY WAS ON 3/28, WHEN THE THERMOMETER REACHED 60 AT IRON MOUNTAIN, WAKEFIELD IN GOGEBIC COUNTY, KENTON IN HOUGHTON COUNTY, AND LABRANCHE IN MENOMINEE COUNTY. A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING THROUGH THE LOWER GREAT LAKES ON 3/1 DROPPED SOME LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOWFALL IN THE MORNING ON THAT DAY. MOST PLACES ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST AND NORTH CENTRAL PORTIONS OF UPPER MICHIGAN PICKED UP AT LEAST 2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW DURING THIS EVENT ALONG WITH 0.25 TO 0.33 INCH OF WATER EQUIVALENT PRECIPITATION. NEGAUNEE OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF MARQUETTE COUNTY MEASURED THE MOST PRECIPITATION AND SNOWFALL WITH 0.55 INCH AND 7.6 INCHES RESPECTIVELY DURING THIS EVENT. A COLD FRONT ATTENDANT TO DEEP LOW PRESSURE MOVING THROUGH SOUTH CENTRAL CANADA CROSSED UPPER MICHIGAN DURING THE NIGHT ON 3/6-3/7, ACCOMPANIED BY SOME SHOWERS AND EVEN A FEW THUNDERSTORMS. THE MOST RAIN IN THE 0.25 TO 0.50 INCH RANGE FELL OVER THE EAST HALF OF THE U.P., INCLUDING AS MUCH AS 0.58 INCH AT MANISTIQUE. WEST WINDS BEHIND THE FRONTAL PASSAGE GUSTED AS HIGH AS 45 TO 55 MPH DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON 3/7. THE GUSTY WEST WINDS AS HIGH AS 40 TO 50 MPH CONTINUED INTO EARLY 3/9 ON THE SOUTHERN FLANK OF THE DEEP LOW PRESSURE MOVING TOWARD HUDSON BAY. WHILE THE ARRIVAL OF COLDER AIR IN THIS STRONG FLOW CAUSED SOME LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS, SNOW ACCUMULATIONS FROM 3/7 INTO 3/9 WERE GENERALLY NO MORE THAN THE 4 TO 5 INCHES THAT FELL AT PAINESDALE IN HOUGHTON COUNTY. BUT THE GUSTY WINDS DID CAUSE CONSIDERABLE BLOWING SNOW, ESPECIALLY AT EXPOSED LOCATIONS NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE FREQUENT LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS ON 3/10 INTO 3/15 DURING THE ARCTIC AIR OUTBREAK, NO MORE THAN ABOUT 4 TO 6 INCHES ACCUMULATED DURING THIS STRETCH EVEN IN THE FAVORED SNOW BELTS DUE TO THE OVERALL DRYNESS OF THE COLD AIRMASS. A BAND OF SNOW AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING WARM FRONT ON 3/17 RESULTED IN 1 TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION AT MOST PLACES ACROSS UPPER MICHIGAN. SOME RAIN SHOWERS AND EVEN A FEW THUNDERSTORMS THAT FORMED AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING WARM FRONT CROSSED UPPER MICHIGAN AND EVEN DROPPED SMALL HAIL DURING THE NIGHT ON 3/19-3/20. ANY PRECIPITATION WAS GENERALLY NO MORE THAN 0.25 INCH. AFTER A MOSTLY SUNNY AND PLEASANTLY WARM FIRST DAY OF SPRING ON 3/20 FOLLOWING THE FRONTAL PASSAGE, A STRONG COLD FRONT SWUNG THROUGH THE UPPER LAKES ON 3/21. NORTH WINDS GUSTING AS HIGH AS 40 TO 50 MPH NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR BEHIND THE FRONT ADVECTED ENOUGH COLD AIR INTO THE AREA TO CAUSE SOME LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS. A PAIR OF DISTURBANCES MOVING EAST ALONG A STATIONARY FRONT STRETCHING FROM THE UPPER MIDWEST ACROSS THE LOWER GREAT LAKES BROUGHT FREEZING RAIN TO PORTIONS OF THE UPPER PENINSULA LATE ON 3/23 INTO 3/24 AND AGAIN LATE ON 3/25 INTO 3/26. DURING THE FIRST EVENT, OVER 0.50 INCH OF RAIN FELL OVER THE SOUTHEAST NEAR LAKE MICHIGAN, WITH AS MUCH AS 0.95 INCH AT MANISTIQUE AND 0.86 INCH AT GARDEN CORNERS IN DELTA COUNTY. FORTUNATELY, TEMPERATURES WHERE THE HEAVIEST RAIN FELL WERE WARM ENOUGH TO LIMIT ICE ACCUMULATION. BUT AS MUCH AS A QUARTER INCH OF ICE BUILT UP ON SOME SURFACES OVER THE NORTH CENTRAL AND WEST. DURING THE 3/25-3/26 PERIOD, AS MUCH AS 0.25 TO 0.40 INCH OF RAIN FELL AT SOME LOCATIONS. UP TO A TENTH OF AN INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATED WHERE TEMPERATURES WERE BELOW FREEZING FOR A TIME WHEN THE RAIN FELL FROM THE KEWEENAW TO SOUTH CENTRAL UPPER MICHIGAN. THERE WAS ALSO SOME LOCALLY DENSE FOG ON 3/26 INTO 3/27, WHEN SOME DRY AIR FOLLOWED A COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE. --------------------------------------------------------------------- ...AUGUST THROUGH MARCH VERY WARM AND WET ACROSS UPPER MICHIGAN... ...TOP 10 WARMEST AND 25 WETTEST AT MOST PLACES... AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OBSERVED NORMAL DEPARTURE RECORD RANK MANISTIQUE 40.0 36.2 +3.8 39.9 /2011-12/ RECORD WARMEST HOUGHTON 38.6 34.1 +4.5 39.4 /2011-12/ 3RD WARMEST NEWBERRY 39.6 35.8 +3.8 41.0 /2011-12/ 3RD WARMEST MARQUETTE NWS 36.8 33.3 +3.5 38.5 /2011-12/ 3RD WARMEST IRON MOUNTAIN 38.9 35.1 +3.8 40.0 /2011-12/ 4TH WARMEST MUNISING 38.9 36.3 +2.6 40.1 /2011-12/ 4TH WARMEST IRONWOOD 36.4 32.8 +3.6 38.2 /2011-12/ 5TH WARMEST MARQUETTE CITY 40.6 37.6 +3.0 43.0 /1877-88/ 6TH WARMEST PRECIPITATION OBSERVED NORMAL DEPARTURE RECORD RANK MANISTIQUE 24.96 19.06 +5.90 30.03 /1978-79/ 4TH HIGHEST NEWBERRY 25.44 23.30 +2.14 37.39 /2001-02/ 15TH HIGHEST HOUGHTON 26.49 18.38 +8.11 36.78 /1985-86/ 18TH HIGHEST IRON MOUNTAIN 19.47 17.39 +2.08 25.64 /1995-96/ 19TH HIGHEST IRONWOOD 23.74 21.40 +2.34 31.68 /1941-42/ 25TH HIGHEST MARQUETTE CITY 22.23 18.65 +3.58 33.86 /1988-89/ **** MARQUETTE NWS 23.45 23.94 -0.49 34.61 /1985-86/ **** **** RANK NOT IN TOP 25 --------------------------------------------------------------------- SOME OTHER TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION OBSERVATIONS ACROSS UPPER MICHIGAN IN MARCH 2017 INCLUDE: IRONWOOD...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 24.6 /0.5 DEGREE BELOW NORMAL/ PRECIPITATION 1.46 INCHES /0.52 INCH BELOW NORMAL/ SNOWFALL 5.3 INCHES /19.6 INCHES BELOW NORMAL/ WATERSMEET (GOGEBIC COUNTY)...PRECIPITATION 0.97 INCH SNOWFALL 3.0 INCHES GREENLAND (ONTONAGON COUNTY)...PRECIPITATION 0.78 INCH SNOWFALL 4.9 INCHES BERGLAND DAM (ONTONAGON COUNTY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 23.1 DEGREES PRECIPITATION 1.65 INCHES SNOWFALL 9.6 INCHES HOUGHTON COUNTY...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 25.4 /0.2 DEGREE ABOVE NORMAL/ AIRPORT PRECIPITATION 0.97 INCH /0.59 INCH BELOW NORMAL/ SNOWFALL 7.0 INCHES /12.2 INCHES BELOW NORMAL/ ATLANTIC MINE (HOUGHTON COUNTY)...PRECIPITATION 1.37 INCHES SNOWFALL 11.0 INCHES PAINESDALE (HOUGHTON COUNTY)...SNOWFALL 14.8 INCHES COPPER HARBOR...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 27.1 DEGREES PRECIPITATION 1.83 INCHES SNOWFALL 8.9 INCHES JACOBSVILLE (HOUGHTON COUNTY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 23.4 DEGREES PRECIPITATION 0.77 INCH SNOWFALL 5.2 INCHES BARAGA...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 25.6 DEGREES PRECIPITATION 0.80 INCH SNOWFALL 7.0 INCHES HERMAN (BARAGA COUNTY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 21.0 DEGREES PRECIPITATION 1.52 INCHES SNOWFALL 12.6 INCHES CLARKSBURG (MARQUETTE COUNTY)...PRECIPITATION 1.02 INCHES SNOWFALL 5.9 INCHES BIG BAY (MARQUETTE COUNTY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 26.4 DEGREES PRECIPITATION 1.41 INCHES SNOWFALL 9.6 INCHES MARQUETTE CITY...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 27.1 /1.9 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL/ PRECIPITATION 1.29 INCHES /0.71 INCH BELOW NORMAL/ SNOWFALL 8.2 INCHES /13.5 INCHES BELOW NORMAL/ CHATHAM (ALGER COUNTY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 26.0 DEGREES PRECIPITATION 2.13 INCHES SNOWFALL 14.9 INCHES MUNISING...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 26.3 /1.4 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL/ PRECIPITATION 2.57 INCHES /0.48 INCH ABOVE NORMAL/ SNOWFALL 14.9 INCHES /3.9 INCHES BELOW NORMAL/ GRAND MARAIS...PRECIPITATION 2.69 INCHES (10 MILES SOUTH) SNOWFALL 22.9 INCHES NEWBERRY...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 26.4 /0.4 DEGREE BELOW NORMAL/ PRECIPITATION 1.58 INCHES /0.69 INCH BELOW NORMAL/ SNOWFALL 11.3 INCHES /6.6 INCHES BELOW NORMAL/ STAMBAUGH (IRON COUNTY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 21.7 DEGREES PRECIPITATION 1.36 INCHES SNOWFALL 4.1 INCHES AMASA (IRON COUNTY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 22.5 DEGREES PRECIPITATION 1.09 INCHES SNOWFALL 3.4 INCHES FORD AIRPORT...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 27.0 DEGREES NEAR IRON MOUNTAIN IRON MOUNTAIN...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 27.1 /0.8 DEGREE BELOW NORMAL/ PRECIPITATION 1.18 INCHES /0.47 INCH BELOW NORMAL/ SNOWFALL 2.3 INCHES /8.3 INCHES BELOW NORMAL/ NORWAY (DICKINSON COUNTY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 27.6 DEGREES PRECIPITATION 1.23 INCHES SNOWFALL 3.2 INCHES ESCANABA...PRECIPITATION 1.52 INCHES SNOWFALL 3.7 INCHES GLADSTONE (DELTA COUNTY)...PRECIPITATION 1.95 INCHES SNOWFALL 5.9 INCHES GARDEN CORNERS (DELTA COUNTY)...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 26.6 DEGREES PRECIPITATION 2.06 INCHES SNOWFALL 3.9 INCHES COOKS (SCHOOLCRAFT COUNTY)...PRECIPITATION 2.58 INCHES SNOWFALL 8.8 INCHES MANISTIQUE...AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 26.6 /0.5 DEGREE BELOW NORMAL/ PRECIPITATION 2.52 INCHES /0.73 INCH ABOVE NORMAL/ SNOWFALL 6.9 INCHES /3.9 INCHES BELOW NORMAL/ --------------------------------------------------------------------- MAY FORECAST THE CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER (CPC) IS FORECASTING EQUAL CHANCES OF AN ABOVE AND BELOW NORMAL MONTHLY MEAN TEMPERATURE BUT A GREATER THAN CLIMATOLOGICAL CHANCE OF BELOW NORMAL MONTHLY PRECIPITATION ACROSS ALL OF UPPER MICHIGAN IN MAY 2017. MAY CLIMATOLOGY MAY BRINGS A CONTINUED MODERATION IN TEMPERATURE AS DAYLIGHT CONTINUES TO LENGTHEN. POSSIBLE SUNSHINE INCREASES FROM 863 MINUTES ON 5/1 TO 932 MINUTES ON 5/31. THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN MAY IS 12 TO 13 DEGREES HIGHER THAN IN APRIL. ALTHOUGH AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURES REACH AROUND 70 BY MEMORIAL DAY OVER INLAND AREAS... THE RELATIVELY COLD WATERS OF THE GREAT LAKES OFTEN KEEP SHORE COMMUNITIES UP TO 20 DEGREES COOLER IN THE AFTERNOON. MORNING TEMPERATURES FREQUENTLY SLIP BELOW FREEZING AT THE BEGINNING OF MAY...BUT AVERAGE LOW TEMPERATURES RISE ABOVE 40 AFTER MID MONTH. THE INCREASE IN AVERAGE TEMPERATURE RESULTS IN A GREATER THREAT OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. AVERAGE PRECIPITATION IS 10 TO 40 PERCENT HIGHER THAN IN APRIL...WITH THE GREATEST AMOUNTS MOST LIKELY NEAR THE WISCONSIN BORDER WHERE THE STABILIZING INFLUENCE OF THE GREAT LAKES IS LESS. MAY IS GENERALLY A TEMPERATE MONTH...BUT WINTER CHILL IS STILL POSSIBLE. ALTHOUGH AVERAGE TEMPERATURES RISE SHARPLY...FROST OFTEN OCCURS AT THE END OF MAY AS RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES REMAIN BELOW FREEZING THE ENTIRE MONTH AT MANY LOCATIONS. NEWBERRY SAW THE MERCURY PLUNGE ALL THE WAY TO 19 AS LATE AS 5/24...IN 1925. MAY 1997 GOES DOWN IN THE RECORD BOOKS AS ONE OF THE COLDEST EVER AT ALL REPORTING STATIONS WITH MONTHLY TEMPERATURES AS MUCH AS SEVEN TO EIGHT DEGREES BELOW NORMAL. IN FACT...THIS MONTH IS THE COLDEST FIFTH MONTH EVER AT MANISTIQUE (AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 44.4)...IRON MOUNTAIN (45.9) AND ONTONAGON (46.6) AS WELL AS IN THE TOP TEN COLDEST AT MOST OTHER UPPER MICHIGAN LOCATIONS. EVEN MORE RECENTLY...MAY 2002 LANDED IN THE LIST OF TOP TEN COLDEST. MONTHLY TEMPERATURES IN MAY 2002 AVERAGED 5 TO 7 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL AT MOST SITES. AT MUNISING...THE MERCURY AVERAGED 9 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL (41.5) AND THE MONTH GOES DOWN IN THE RECORD BOOKS AS THE COLDEST MAY EVER. AT STATIONS WITH A LONGER TERM RECORD...MAY 1954 STANDS OUT AS VERY CHILLY...IN FACT THE COLDEST EVER AT THE HOUGHTON COUNTY AIRPORT (41.8)...WHEN MONTHLY TEMPERATURES FELL OVER EIGHT DEGREES BELOW NORMAL. SNOW CAN STILL PLAGUE UPPER MICHIGAN DURING MAY. A LATE SEASON SNOWSTORM OCCURRED IN CENTRAL UPPER MICHIGAN ON 5/9-5/10/90...WHEN AN IMPRESSIVE 22.4 INCHES OF HEAVY WET SNOW FELL AT THE MARQUETTE NWS...11 INCHES BLANKETED IRON MOUNTAIN...AND 7 INCHES FELL ON MUNISING. DURING THE CHILLY MAY 1997...13 INCHES OF THE WHITE STUFF ACCUMULATED AT ONTONAGON ON 5/12 AND 11.3 INCHES SMOTHERED IRONWOOD. NEWBERRY WAS STRUCK BY AN EVEN LATER MAY SNOWSTORM...10 INCHES ACCUMULATED THERE ON 5/23 AND 5/24 BACK IN 1917. MEASURABLE SNOW AS LATE AS MEMORIAL DAY IS NOT UNPRECEDENTED...IRONWOOD RECORDED 3.7 INCHES OF SNOW ON 5/28/65. ALTHOUGH SNOW CAN STILL FALL IN MAY...SPRING HEAT WAVES CAN ALSO BRING MID SUMMER HEAT TO UPPER MICHIGAN. ON 5/31 IN 1934...BOTH IRON MOUNTAIN AND IRONWOOD RECORDED MONTHLY RECORD 100 DEGREE HIGH TEMPERATURES. RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE 90S EVERYWHERE BY MONTHS` END...EXCEPT AT MANISTIQUE WHERE A SOUTHERLY FLOW OFF LAKE MICHIGAN OFTEN KEEPS AFTERNOON MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES FROM GETTING AS HIGH AS FARTHER INLAND. MAY 1977 AND 1998 ARE THE WARMEST MAYS IN RECENT MEMORY. MAY 1977 IS THE WARMEST ON RECORD AT IRON MOUNTAIN (62.4)...THE MARQUETTE NWS (59.4)...THE HOUGHTON COUNTY AIRPORT (58.1) AND MUNISING (57.5). MAY 1998 GOES DOWN IN THE RECORD BOOKS AS THE WARMEST ON RECORD AT NEWBERRY (59.1) AND IN THE TOP FIVE WARMEST AT MANY OTHER PLACES. MAY 2000 SAW A VERY SUMMERLIKE WEEK IN THE EARLY PART OF THE MONTH...AND TEMPERATURES AVERAGED 20 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL AT MANY LOCATIONS BETWEEN 5/3 AND 5/8. BARAGA SAW THE MERCURY REACH 90 ON 5/5/2000...AND THE MARQUETTE NWS BROKE FOUR DAILY RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES DURING THAT 6-DAY STRETCH. IN FACT... THE WEEK BETWEEN 5/3/00 AND 5/8/00 IS THE WARMEST 6-DAY PERIOD ON RECORD IN EARLY MAY AT THE MARQUETTE NWS. MORE RECENTLY...MAY 2010 FEATURED A MEAN MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 3 TO 5 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. OUTLOOK FOR SUMMER THE CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER (CPC) IS FORECASTING A GREATER THAN CLIMATOLOGICAL CHANCE OF AN ABOVE NORMAL 3-MONTH AVERAGE TEMPERATURE AND BELOW NORMAL 3-MONTH PRECIPITATION ACROSS ALL OF UPPER MICHIGAN IN JUNE THROUGH AUGUST 2017. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. THE 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
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