Wicked winter weather continues

Wicked winter weather continues to blow through the U.P. today, with snow showers expected into the early afternoon hours.

The majority of the roads in the region are covered with not only snow, but ice. The National Weather Service in Marquette issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the Central and Western portions of the U.P. last night, but that advisory has since lapsed and morphed into a Lake Effect Snow advisory for the Keweenaw.

The Michigan State Police are warning drivers of dangerous conditions this morning. Marquette County and the City of Houghton are still under a travel advisory, and asking people to stay off the roads if possible. Main roads, like U.S. 41, are mostly slushy with a few patches of ice, while side streets continue to see a dicey mix of ice and hard packed snow. Some of yesterday’s snow melted due to a late afternoon rain shower, but the overnight dip in temperature caused the wet conditions to turn into ice instead.

Emergency crews have been called out to dozens of minor incidents of vehicles in snow banks and ditches this morning. So, if you have to drive, slow down and leave early.

The National Weather Service says a blast of very cold arctic air will create wind chills as low as 15 to 25 below zero through Saturday. Tonight is no exception with wind gusts coming out of the west at 30 mph and the chance of snow reaching upwards of 40 percent.

Stay tuned to ABC 10 News tonight at 5:30 EST for more details from Meteorologist Adam Claibon.