Dennis Baldinelli of Kingsford clears snow at a home on Iron Mountain's east side Friday afternoon. A storm expected to arrive late tonight could bring record-breaking snowfall to the region, according to the National Weather Service. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Potentially record-breaking snowfall is predicted for the Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin as a storm system arrives late tonight, with widespread snow totals exceeding a foot and some locations along Lake Michigan seeing up to 3 feet of snow, the National Weather Service said.

A winter storm watch will be in effect from late tonight through Monday evening, forecasters said.

According to the National Weather Service, about 9 inches of snow fell in the Delta County area during a storm that began early Friday morning, but heavy snowfall continued into the afternoon.

About 8 to 12 inches of snow fell in the Iron Mountain-Kingsford area and neighboring communities Friday, as well.

Upper Peninsula Power Co. said repair crews are standing by.

“Power outages may occur as strong winds and heavy snow moves through the region,” said Dan Freeborn, UPPCO’s manager of Communications and External Affairs. “UPPCO crews are prepared to respond to outages should they occur.”

The public is advised to never approach or touch a downed power line or anything in contact with one. “If you see a downed line, stay at least 35 feet away and call 9-1-1 immediately,” Freeborn said.

Winds on Sunday could gust as high as 35 mph and Monday is expected to be blustery. Warmer weather could take hold later in the week, with a predicted high of 44 degrees on Thursday.

In Wisconsin, the Marinette County Highway Department urges the public to stay off the roads during the storm. The Marinette County Roadway Weather Information Systems predict 20 to 29 inches of snow along with high winds that will cause blowing and drifting snow.

“Highway Department crews will be working throughout the storm. However, the snowfall rates and wind conditions may slow their ability to keep the roads clear,” said Jessica Demler, Marinette County Emergency Management coordinator. “Keeping roads free of unnecessary traffic will allow for more effective snow removal operations and help emergency responders operate safely and efficiently,” she said.

According to AccuWeather, blizzard conditions are possible in portions of Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, northern Illinois and southeastern Minnesota. From 1 to 3 feet of snow is forecast to pile up from near Minneapolis and Green Bay, Wis., extending to the Upper Peninsula.

Rain and a wintry mix will change to some snow in southern Michigan and around Chicago, AccuWeather said.