Not Shoveling. . .

. . . yet! 

It's true that the clouds have been spitting some snowflakes this week, but we only have a thin coating on the lawn. When the news tells you that it's snowing in the U.P., don't automatically think Steve & Julie are digging out in the Keweenaw Peninsula. Having Lake Superior on three sides of this peninsula makes for big snows when the Lake Effect Snow Machine really cranks up during the winter months. That same lake generally keeps the Keweenaw a little warmer and keeps the heavy snow away from us at this time of year. The snow belt areas of the U.P. to our south get much more than we do during these very early season events, but we more than make up for it later! 

Another thing to remember is that the snowfall totals can vary drastically just within the Keweenaw Peninsula itself. For example, the same winter snow event can bring 4 inches to Houghton and Hancock, 6 inches to Calumet, 10 inches up on our property and just an inch or 2 to the shoreline areas of Eagle River, Eagle Harbor and Copper Harbor. On one trip we made to this area several years ago, it was snowing heavily on our property all day. As we drove the few miles down the road to Eagle Harbor, the precipitation changed to rain - no sign of snow. We turned around and headed back to the property. Yep, still snowing up there in the higher elevations.

It's pretty interesting to watch the meteorologists on the TV news on channel 6 out of Marquette - especially during the winter months. Channel 6 is watched throughout the U.P., so they have to give forecasts for the entire U.P. They basically give you one forecast for the eastern side of the U.P. and one for the west and then try to break it down further into northwest, southwest, northeast and southeast. Plus, they often have to break the forecast down even further into the lake effect snow belts of the U.P., the banana belt of the U.P. and the higher elevations along the spine of the Keweenaw. 

One of our local meteorologists publishes a seasonal outlook every November. He's the first to admit that such long-range forecasting is difficult, so he tells us not to cancel plans or make plans according to his seasonal forecast. That being said, he thinks the beginning of our winter will bring us average to above average snowfall totals and the second half of our winter will bring us below average snowfall. We'll see!

All is well in the Keweenaw.

UPDATE! Things have changed in the last few hours since I posted what's written above. The temp has risen to 40° and the sun is shining. Here's how the backyard looked yesterday and this morning.

Here's how it looks right now.

Cocoa is stretched out on the lawn sunning herself.

All is well in the Keweenaw.