A quick look around Marquette the past few weeks may quickly strike up questions about the weather — where are the mountains of snow that the U.P. typically expects, and how do people feel about it?
Snow is finally falling, but some ground is still bare; some U.P. communities have been longing for heavier snowfall for months. With events canceled and plenty of winter activities rain-checked, students at NMU have noticed a significant change in campus culture. Some are not bothered as much, but they notice how the warm weather affects others.
Living in Marquette provides a different perspective on the drastic change in weather. After being used to years of heavy snow and freezing winters, an extra season of warmth may not be as upsetting.
“It’s way warmer, and last winter was brutal, whereas this year has been super nice,” Hunter Simon said, a freshman at NMU and Marquette local. “[People wore] T-shirts in the low 30’s. It really does mess with the economy. The ski hill is a huge local attraction, and the lack of snow has prohibited tourism. At Northern there’s that promise of huge snow and a giant winter, but for a local, it’s not nearly as bad.”
Although Simon isn’t phased much by the lack of snow, he notices the changes that have come with it. NMU is used to long winter seasons, so this year has a different kind of feeling to it.
“It’s odd, it feels off, which is the best way I can describe it,” Simon said. “It’s certainly strange for February. It is usually the month of the most snow, and it’s the most aggressive part of winter.”
Other NMU students feel stronger about the warmer winter. Not only does it affect their college experience, but it can affect their livelihood and habits.
“I feel existentially worried, and I feel terrified for the future of the climate,” Junior Mikenna Weiler said. “I also enjoy the snow. My parents do snow plowing for a living, so I associate snow with money. I also just enjoy more consistent weather because it makes me feel more at ease.”
Just listening to passerby, Weiler has noticed how the snow has affected other NMU students as well. She also recognizes how difficult it can be to be motivated and go out while the weather is spotty.
“It’s harder to go outside again when it’s that crappy middle temperature, where you don’t want to be bundled up but you also don’t want to stay inside,” Weiler said. “Instead, you just want to sit and wait until it turns into a steady weather pattern.”
While students have different opinions on the lack of snowfall in Marquette, everyone can acknowledge that its weather is strange.
