With Michigan enjoying summer-like weather to start the week — several cities setting records on Monday, Oct. 13, it's easy to think snow is a long way off.
Forecasters, however, say this week will end with much cooler, fall-like conditions and the potential for rain through the weekend that also might bring a few snow flurries.
"The U.P. typically experiences its first flakes in mid-late October," National Weather Service meteorologist Ben Warren said in an email to the Free Press on Tuesday, Oct. 13.
Warren said the higher terrain of the Huron Mountains, overlooking Lake Superior in north-central U.P., and the Michigamme highlands, located in Marquette and Baraga counties, typically see the first flakes a bit earlier than the rest of the U.P.
"Right on cue, I wouldn't be surprised to see some snowflakes mix in this area on Friday (Oct. 16) with a strong low-pressure system working through the Great Lakes," Warren said.
Negaunee, about 15 miles west of Marquette, is expected to see highs Friday in the mid-40s and lows in the upper 20s overnight into Saturday.
Michigamme, located along U.S. 41 west of Negaunee, will see a high in the lower 40s and a low near 22 on Friday night with precipitation expected during the day. Crystal Falls and Ironwood, both in the western U.P., also could reach the lower 20s on Friday night.
The snowflakes are expected melt on impact, but that likely won't be the case much longer.
When will Michigan see its first snow this year?
Here's are average, earliest and latest snowfall dates for cities across Michigan, according to the Midwestern Regional Climate Center:
Detroit
- Earliest: Oct. 12 (2006)
- Latest: Dec. 29 (1998)
- Average: Nov. 19
Ann Arbor
- Earliest: Oct. 12 (2006)
- Latest: March 11 (1882)
- Average: Nov. 8
Lansing
- Earliest: Oct. 12 (2006)
- Latest: Dec. 18 (1883)
- Average: Nov. 11
Grand Rapids
- Earliest: Oct. 7 (2000)
- Latest: Dec. 5 (1948)
- Average: Nov. 6
Battle Creek
- Earliest: Oct. 12 (2006)
- Latest: Dec. 18 (1998)
- Average: Nov. 9
Benton Harbor
- Earliest: Sept. 30 (1899)
- Latest: Jan. 1 (1942)
- Average: Nov. 23
Muskegon
- Earliest: Oct. 7 (1978)
- Latest: Dec. 24 (1918)
- Average: Nov. 16
Cheboygan
- Earliest: Sept. 20 (1956)
- Latest: Jan. 1 (1932)
- Average: Nov. 13
Alpena
- Earliest: Sept. 24 (1928)
- Latest: Dec. 12 (1948)
- Average: Nov. 5
Sault Ste. Marie
- Earliest: Sept. 13 (1923)
- Latest: Nov. 25 (2024)
- Average: Oct. 24
Marquette
- Earliest: Sept. 22 (1974)
- Latest: Nov. 19 (1994)
- Average: Oct. 16
Ironwood
- Earliest: Sept. 21 (1913)
- Latest: Nov. 25 (1931)
- Average: Oct. 16
Ontonagon
- Earliest: Sept. 26 (1995)
- Latest: Nov. 26 (2001)
- Average: Oct. 29
Escanaba
- Earliest: Sept. 22 (1965)
- Latest: Dec. 22 (2020)
- Average: Nov. 18
Lansing State Journal reporter Sarah Moore contributed reporting.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan is about to cool down. Is snow far off?
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