IRON MOUNTAIN — Above-normal precipitation is favored for the rest of winter and early spring in the Upper Peninsula while the outlook on temperatures is neutral, according to the National Weather Service.

In the near term, frigid weather tonight is expected to give way to a warmup beginning Sunday. Highs should climb into the 30s early next week.

The long-range forecast is influenced by La Nina, which is characterized by cooler-than-normal ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. La Nina is sometimes linked to cooler and wetter conditions in the Great Lakes region.

Although the La Nina climate pattern is weakening “we expect La Nina impacts through at least February-March-April,” said NWS forecaster Johnna Infanti.

The Climate Prediction Center calls for about a 50% chance of above-normal precipitation through April in the U.P. and northern Wisconsin and just a 20% chance of below-normal.

AccuWeather, meanwhile, predicts a tug-of-war transition into spring. Occasional warmups in the Midwest will give way to chilly air, keeping the door open for snow, meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.

At Iron Mountain-Kingsford, temperatures in January averaged 12.7 degrees, which was 1.5 degrees below normal, according to NWS data.

The highest reading was 41 degrees on Jan. 13, which was 3 degrees below the record for that date set in 1961.

The month’s coldest day was Jan. 24 at minus 22, marking the peak of a stretch from Jan. 20 to Jan. 30 when overnight lows were always below zero. It was the coldest January since 2022, when temperatures averaged 8.9 degrees.

At the Iron Mountain-Kingsford Wastewater Treatment Plant, 10.8 inches of snowfall was observed for the month, which was 4 inches below average. However, liquid-equivalent precipitation measured three-quarters of an inch above the norm at 2.12 inches.

Snow depth at the end of January was reported at 15 inches as the snowfall total for the season stood at 27 inches.

The U.S. Drought Monitor shows no areas of concern in the U.P., apart from abnormally dry conditions in southern Dickinson and Menominee counties. Conditions in Florence County, Wis., are abnormally dry as well, with moderate to severe drought to the south in Forest and Marinette counties.

Snowfall totals in January for other areas of the U.P. included 27 inches at Michigamme, 36 inches at Baraga, 62 inches at Marquette, 43 inches at Ironwood, 17 inches at Garden Corners and 14 inches at Manistique.

At the Calumet/Tamarack weather station, the January snowfall total was 116 inches, bringing the season total to 216 inches as of Jan. 31. Another 174 inches would be needed to tie the U.P. record set during the winter of 1978-79.

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Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.