IRONWOOD, MI - Monday, January 28, 2008 - According to the National Weather Service in Marquette, there will be an Arctic blast settling to the area on Tuesday and Tuesday night.

An advisory released by the Service "Expect dramatic changes in the weather over the next few days as a strong storm system moves from the northern plains across the Great Lakes region. Ahead of the storm system... gusty south winds will develop Monday. Winds may gust as high as 40 m.p.h. Monday afternoon and evening east of a line from Munising to Escanaba... especially near Lake Michigan and around Grand Marais. A wintry mix of precipitation will also develop... mainly Monday afternoon and night, with temperatures rising into the lower to middle 30's... rain... snow... or a combination of sleet and freezing rain will be possible. Even where temperatures rise above freezing Monday afternoon and evening... untreated roads and sidewalks may become icy due to the recent cold weather."

The advisory released at 4:45 P.M., Sunday, January 27, 2008, warns, "A powerful Arctic cold front will then blast across Upper Michigan Tuesday... resulting in falling temperatures from west to east during the day. By daybreak Wednesday... temperatures will range from around 10 below zero over the interior of western Upper Michigan to the single digits above zero near Lake Superior. Wind chill readings will range from 10 below to 30 below zero late Tuesday night and Wednesday morning."

"In addition to the Arctic air," the advisory continues, "a period of snow is likely Tuesday as the cold front passes across the area. Accumulations of 1 to 4 inches are possible... but as west winds increase to 20 to 30 m.p.h... considerable blowing and drifting snow will also develop. Moderate to heavy lake effect snow will then develop Tuesday afternoon and night over northwest Upper Michigan and east of Marquette. With west to northwest winds gusting to 40 to 50 m.p.h. over Lake Superior... blizzard conditions may develop from the Keweenaw peninsula to Ontonagon and also near the lake east of Munising."

The National Weather Service in Marquette reminds everybody to "Be sure to monitor later forecasts and statements on the rapidly changing weather conditions over the next few days."