Spring comes in cold

Snowflakes fell Thursday across the Gogebic Range, the day before the official arrival of spring.

Better days lie ahead, however.

The national Climate Prediction Center forecasts a greater than climatological chance of above average temperatures for the next three months, but about average precipitation.

For the short term, unseasonably cold temperatures are forecast, with highs of only 28 on Saturday and 32 on Sunday.

Ironwood's record high for March 20 is 78 degrees in 2012. That year, temperatures from March 17-22 set records every day, in the 70s and high 60s.

The warm weather of a week ago has resulted in fire danger warnings in many northern Wisconsin counties, although the snowmelt has been gradual in Iron County, greatly reducing the chance of flooding.

Rainfall of around three-tenths of an inch in Ironwood earlier this week helped to clean streets and roadsides.

So far in March, 53 Wisconsin wildfires have burned 164 acres, with debris burning the leading cause of fires.

Northern Wisconsin lakes still have a foot or more of ice but it has turned honeycombed and gray. Many lakes have developed patches of open water near inlets, access areas and along south-facing shores.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said black bears are being seen in increasing numbers.

A report of the first black bear sighting in the Superior area was received just a short distance from Pattison State Park.

There's open water on the south fork of the Flambeau River and the north fork is not far behind, with a few spots starting to open up.