Frigid arctic air and abnormally warm Great Lakes water temperatures proved an explosive combination Thursday, setting the stage for this autumn’s heaviest lake snows. Areas of Michigan opposite Chicago were buried. Grand Rapids was hit by 8.4" while 7" fell at Sparta and 7.5" accumulated late Thursday at Scottville in southwest and west central Michigan. Farther north, snow totals were even more impressive. Traverse City sat beneath 11" by nightfall while nearby Interlochen reported 13"—and snow was still falling.
But, it was Michigan’s Upper Peninsula which boasted the heaviest totals of all. Marquette’s 17" paled in comparison to the 27" full workweek tally at Ironwood since Monday night.
Thursday’s 28° high in Chicago was the coldest here since March 2 (27°). That level of chill didn’t occur a year ago for another month.
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
