• Monday-What'sUP January 5 - 08:52 pm

The most common type of snowfall you'll hear mentioned here in the U.P., is Lake Effect Snow. That's snow that falls due to the atmospheric conditions created by the open waters of Lake Superior. But no matter what type of snow is falling, it covers the landscape just the same.

Thanks to Dennis Kemper we have perfect examples of the way the snow is covering in the Copper Country this time of year. His first photo shows the cottony effect that adorns the branches of the trees as the snow accumulates. Then Dennis gives us a miniature glimpse of the buildup of snow that we're treated to on our roofs. I sure hope that birdhouse has the proper rated trusses holding up all that snow, otherwise it might collapse. Hopefully Dennis will save the day and shovel it off before that happens!

...and the last shot appears to make a prediction about where we may be headed this winter. :->

Very nice snow pictures. Believe it or not, we've actually had that stuff too. We had 4 to 6 on Saturday. And the temp was warm like it usually is when it snows so that makes it better. Anyway, great job with the pictures.

The snowmobile trails have to be in great condition, and busy!

Beautiful photos! The winter (1978-1979) that I remember the most was when I was expecting my youngest son, Justin. It snowed and snowed and snowed; we had so much snow!!!

I just returned to Mississippi yesterday after a wonderful visit with my parents in Bootjack.....what a beautiful winter wonderland! It was 70 degrees and humid when I got off the plane in Biloxi....I wanna go back to the UP!!!!

Who gets credit for the cartoon? Very nicely done!

That cartoon is great, but there's no smoking in state vehicles. And these days MDOT's trucks are red, the old ones were orange...just in case you cared. :-)

Pictures are beautiful. We don't have much down here in South Eastern Michigan but are expecting 3 to 6 inches Wednesday.

Thomas Dessellier

Out of curiosity, how much snow has fallen so far in Hancock for
instance (my old home town)?

Joy, I was in Kalamazoo for what I rememember as the blizzard of '78 (coulda been early '79). We had about 3 feet of snow in one go; it was one of the few times that I didn't get into work.

Mike Diljak (Mikebass):
"… how much snow has fallen so far in Hancock for instance"

According to the local weather guru, John Dee's records, as of this morning, approximately 148.5" for the season in Allouez Township in Keweenaw County.

1. Click → John Dee's Historical Weather records page.
2. Click → John Dee's "Almost Live Cam" (scroll down for the daily Snow Data report).
3. Click → John Dee's Snow Central (Home Page)

From Click → John's (Weekley) Journal from Sunday January 4:

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Quote:

"… we have picked up over 26" in the past 6 days and our seasonal total to date is now at 142.5. We are on a pace to get over 300" if the pattern stays as active as it has. Whether or not we reach 300", it looks more like late season out there than early season."

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Kathy, I am glad that so far-since I moved downstate, I have not experience that amount of snow. When my family and I moved below the bridge, we left Calumet on November 27th in a typical lake effect storm (white out etc.). Here in the Lansing area, they were having what I considered a heat wave in the high 60's. I miss home-especially the people (family and friends etc.), but I do not miss the blizzards etc.

I sure hope we don't get as much snow as in the cartoon since I am already running out of places to put it.

Joy, Lansing is pretty far to the east to get lake effect snow; Kalamazoo is farther to the west/closer to Lake Michigan & so got lake efect snow. Even there, that blizzard in '78 was notable.

I am a cross-country skiier in a region (SE Michigan) with virtually no lake effect snow. While I am no fonder of "interesting" driving than the next person, I do miss having a dependable snow cover.

Thanks FRNash. I added the links you provided to my browser. Now
I know how much I am missing?

Nice pics. We (Gaylord) keep getting the snow but then it RAINS and we lose it!

Mary,

I think the last picture is wrong - doesn't the guys at Keweenaw County Road Commission maintain the snowfall sign?

Good evening from Mishawaka, IN.

The blizzard of '78 was mentioned in an earlier post. I remember that storm well. When ended we had somewhere close to 4 ft. of snow on the ground. My husband had had surgery on his had the week before and couldn't do any of the clean up. My boys were out of school for 2 1/2 weeks. The schools were closed because the students in Mishawaka walk to school and they needed to get the sidewalks open to some degree. It was something to see and remember. Hope we don't get anything like that this winter.

The pictures are great.

Beautiful pics! I especially like the snow on the pine tree.
Judging from the cartoon, does anybody think the Keweenaw's
1978-79 record snowfall will be surpassed this Winter?

Sure wish we'd get some of that white stuff down here!