NWS Weather Forecast Office 112 Airpark Drive South Negaunee, Michigan 49866 www.weather.gov/mqt |
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OFFICE LOCATION: WFO Marquette is situated eight miles west of downtown Marquette in the small town of Negaunee. The area is hilly and forested and rises abruptly above the Lake Superior shoreline eight miles to the east increasing in elevation by about 750 feet. OFFICE PROGRAM: WFO Marquette has one of the most challenging forecast and warning programs in the National Weather Service--public (inland zones as well as an extensive lake influence), marine (Lake Superior open waters and Lake Superior and Lake Michigan nearshore marine forecasts), aviation, fire weather, hydrology, and cooperative observing.
Lake Superior and the inland lakes offer scenic beauty in addition to great kayaking, canoeing, swimming, and sun bathing. Crystal clear waters and pristine, unspoiled beaches provide great summer fun opportunities for locals and tourists alike. These photos show just some of the spectacular beaches within a few miles of Marquette. Summers are extraordinary; pleasantly warm with low humidity and frequent sunny days.
Isle Royale National Park is a unique part of WFO Marquette's forecast area. Located in Lake
If solitude is your thing, check out our inland lakes such as Fish Lake pictured here. Many of our lakes are undeveloped, great for bass, walleye, and northern pike fishing, wilderness camping, and for viewing eagles and loons. Craig Lake State Park, about an hour's drive west of Marquette, is comprised of four wilderness lakes interconnected by waterways, portage trails, and backpacking trails. This "hidden" State Park is such a special treasure that there are no highway signs marking the 6-mile jeep trail leading to it! A two-hour drive from Marquette takes the canoe trekker to dozens of interconnected wilderness lakes south of Munising and the Sylvania Wilderness Area south of Watersmeet.
![]() There are no dull seasonal weather regimes at WFO Marquette as each season has its challenge. Most folks move to Marquette to enjoy the wonderfully delightful snow season. On the average, snow is on the ground from around Thanksgiving through the last week of March. During that time, the area is a winter playground for both locals and tourists alike. One of the finest alpine ski and snow board areas in the Midwest, Marquette Mountain, is located just 10 minutes from downtown Marquette with a dozen more alpine ski areas within a two- hour drive. Cross country ski opportunities are abundant with 12 groomed ski areas within the county, offering some of the most challenging terrain in North America. An extensive network of groomed snowmobile trails crisscross the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, allowing access to scenic regions otherwise inaccessible during the winter. Opportunities for ice hockey and ice skating are many, both indoor and out, and sledding and snowshoeing offer winter fun for all ages.
The town of Negaunee, where the Weather Forecast Office is located, is home to several events at the Lucy Hill Luge Track at Naturbahn Hill, where Olympic Silver Medalist Chris Thorpe trained early in his career. The National Ski Hall of Fame is located in Negaunee. Marquette is also home to the U.S. Olympic Education Training Center, specializing in training and teaching America's brightest young short track speed skating and boxing athletes. COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION: Marquette is the largest city in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and is located on Lake Superior The population of Marquette is about 21,000 with another 8,450 students at NMU. Population of Marquette County approaches 70,000. All major churches are represented, and while some minority populations are only a small percentage of the total, nearly all ethnic peoples and races are represented with the University presence.
For indoor exercise and sports, the Physical Education Instructional Facility (PEIF) on the campus of Northern Michigan University is unequaled. The PEIF has indoor tennis courts, volleyball, racquetball, indoor running track, swimming pool, ice skating rink, basketball courts, climbing wall, and a complete fitness center. The PEIF has a food court and lounge area with large screen TV. WFO Marquette staff are fans of Northern Michigan University Wildcat Hockey, Central Collegiate Hockey Association, attending the games as a group. You'll also find us at the Wildcat basketball, football, and volleyball games. Join us Friday evenings as our office bowling team, "The Lightning Strikes," competes in downtown Marquette. CLIMATE: Summers are warm and dry and very pleasant. The July maximum and minimum averages range from 77 to 54. Winter temperatures are modified by Lake Superior with the January averages ranging from 22 to 4. Average precipitation is 35 inches with 110 inches of snowfall the average in the city and close to 200 inches over the highlands to the west of town. EDUCATION: The city of Marquette has several K-5 community schools, two middle schools, and one high school. There are two parochial schools. Nearby communities have 13 K-5 schools, four middle schools, and four high schools. Northern Michigan University within the city limits of Marquette offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs. TRANSPORTATION: The airport serving the area is located in Gwinn, about 30 minutes from the WFO. There is public transportation in the area but for round the clock shift workers an automobile is a necessity. A bus service connects to other Upper Peninsula cities and there is an AMTRAK bus connection to Chicago for train connections east, west, and south. Upper Michigan is someplace special! Nowhere else in the country will you find such a rich variety of scenery, topography, and things to do, such a clean, hassle-free environment, and such fine, practical people as in the "North Woods" of Upper Michigan. |
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