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Outdoors
IRON COUNTY – It has been a record-breaking winter in the U.P., with snow levels the lowest seen in decades. The U.S. Department of Agriculture designated a drought disaster for 43 Michigan counties, which prompted relief loans to be offered from the Small Business Administration.
An early April snowstorm seemed a cruel joke, as areas around the U.P. saw anywhere from no snow to up to a foot of wet, heavy precipitation.
The following list of record-breaking events was compiled by the Governor’s Office:
• Only 16% of the Great Lakes froze over this winter, compared to 53% average.
• Marquette saw 72.6 inches of snow this season, compared to an average of 127 inches.
• Three sled dog races were canceled: The UP200 starting in Marquette, the CopperDog150 in the Keweenaw Peninsula and the Tahquamenon Country Sled Dog Race in Newberry.
• Detroit saw a high of 73 degrees on Feb. 27. This is the hottest day recorded for the month dating back to 1874.
• Grand Rapids snowfall is more than three feet below seasonal average.