NORTHERN MICHIGAN — The sounds of tree branches cracking and ice rattling windows echoed around Northern Michigan over the weekend as ice storms battered the region.
According to meteorologist Joe Delizio at the National Weather Service office in Gaylord, the region experienced between a quarter to three-quarters of an inch of ice accumulation, with some localized areas reporting amounts exceeding a full inch.
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“Our ice storm warning threshold starts at a quarter of an inch,” Delizio said. “So, in places where we’ve seen double or triple that, it’s no surprise we’re dealing with widespread tree damage and power outages.”
Petoskey saw approximately a quarter-inch or slightly more, while other parts of Charlevoix County and beyond faced heavier impacts.
The weight of the ice alone has been enough to bend and break trees and utility lines, but gusty winds — measured between 25 to 35 mph — have only worsened the situation.
“When you have ice-laden branches swaying in the wind, they’re far more likely to snap,” Delizio said.
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Delizio noted that while winter storms are no stranger to Northern Michigan, an ice event of this scale is rare.
“This certainly seems like one of the more widespread icing events we’ve seen in a really long time,” he said.
Looking ahead, Delizio warned of another wintry mix expected midweek, likely on Wednesday into early Thursday. While it’s not expected to be as impactful, the region’s already-weakened trees and infrastructure remain vulnerable.
“Any additional weight or weather stress isn’t ideal right now,” he said.
— Contact reporter Annie Doyle at 231-675-0099 and adoyle@charlevoixcourier.com.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Ice storms leave big mark on Northern Michigan
Reporting by Annie Doyle, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
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