April snow showers bring May drifts

IRONWOOD - The early spring storm that blasted the Gogebic Range with more than a foot of snow beginning Thursday evening lingered on into early this morning.

Ironwood received 9.5 inches for the 24-hour period to 7 a.m. Friday and it snowed throughout the day after that, most likely doubling that total.

The National Weather Service's winter storm warning for Ironwood was extended to 1 this morning, long after the storm had ended in the Duluth-Superior area.

The snow was wet, heavy and difficult to shovel. In Ironwood, the 9.5 inches melted to .81 inch of precipitation.

The heavy snow was whipped around by strong north winds that continually drifted roadways, making it tough for plow crews to keep them open.

In addition to poor visibility, motorists faced ice beneath the snow that slowed traffic.

"People have to drive accordingly," said Deb Elsemore, dispatcher at the Gogebic County Sheriff's Department in Bessemer.

She said despite the lousy weather, it hadn't been a real busy day for deputies as of Friday afternoon. That probably was because most people stayed home.

The nearby Gogebic County Courthouse closed early at 1:30 p.m. Friday.

Schools throughout the area canceled classes and most activities were postponed.

Up to noon on Friday, Superior, Wis., had received 17.8 inches of snow and Ashland had recorded 13.3 inches.

While the temperature had warmed up to 36 degrees in Duluth by 4 p.m. Friday, it was still 27 in Ironwood and the wind was continuing to whip snow off Lake Superior.

The NWS said there was no chance of snow today, with a high around 42.

Overnight parking bans for both Ironwood and Hurley have been extended throughout the entire month of April. They usually would expire at the end of March.

Because of the storm, residential curbside garbage service in Ironwood was rescheduled to today.

Residents were asked to have their garbage placed on curbsides by no later than 7 this morning.