Is Spring on the way? Nope.
NEGAUNEE TOWNSHIP — According to the calendar, it is springtime here in the Upper Peninsula. But don’t put away your winter gloves, coats and hats just yet.
Last week’s spring–like temperatures were just a tease according to the National Weather Service of Marquette. A ridge of high pressure over the western part of the country has led to warmer than usual temperatures for places like Alaska, leaving places like the U.P. to deal with the colder conditions for most of the winter months.
“The pattern that has been with us pretty much for the second part of winter and into the first part of March looks like it’s going to persist into April, so that means cooler than normal temperatures,” said Jason Alumbaugh, a Meteorologist at the NWS.
“Last April people probably remember it was very, very chilly. We’re not looking at anything like that, but still lower than normal. Normal highs to start April are around 40 degrees in the Marquette area and in the middle 40’s inland and towards the Wisconsin border. By the end of the month, it’s up around the 50’s and maybe around 60 inland,” explained Alumbaugh.
Before we see those warmer temperatures five to six weeks from now, a small amount of snow is set to descend on the U.P. later this week.