Traverse City Trail Report – 12/15
TRAVERSE CITY AREA UPDATE via Grand Traverse Area Snowmobile Club – 12/15
Yesterday was my first time in the groomer this year. We have a lot of downed trees and limbs due to the heavy wet snow we received. Please use extra caution if riding this week as we are running a full groomer schedule in an effort to clear the trails as quickly as we can. We need to get about another 6 inches of snow before the trails will be decent. There is a tremendous amount of ice out there right now.
During my groom I saw about 10 snowmobilers out riding. I also saw where a lot of them were spinning their tracks down to dirt. We do currently have a very good base so if we get some snow the trail should firm up quickly. I will do an update as soon as conditions improve..
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WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> Wintry mix peaks this morning, tapering to some drizzle / freezing drizzle late this afternoon into tonight. We trend milder into Saturday and especially Sunday before the next system builds into the region, bringing falling temps and, eventually, the return of snow. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey #soo #newberry
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> Here's the latest on the wintry mix tonight into Friday. Expect 3-6" of snow across the E UP, up to 2" of snow/sleet in northern lower N of M-72 in addition to a light glaze of ice, and up to 0.10" of ice accumulation south of M-72. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey #soo #newberryHere's the latest on the wintry mix tonight into Friday. Expect 3-6" of snow across the E UP, up to 2" of snow/sleet in northern lower N of M-72 in addition to a light glaze of ice, and up to 0.10" of ice accumulation south of M-72.
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> A messy winter system will bring impacts the region at varying times to the region tonight and much of Friday. Accumulating snow will be most impactful in eastern upper, while a messy mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain / drizzle impacts much of northern lower. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey
WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> On top of our second call ice map, here is our second call snowfall map for December 26th, 2025. It's a messy system with multiple precipitation types, so be sure to click on our page to go see our ice forecast.... #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyOn top of our second call ice map, here is our second call snowfall map for December 26th, 2025. It's a messy system with multiple precipitation types, so be sure to click on our page to go see our ice forecast.
Discussion
The north side of the low will have much colder air, and the deformation zone for this event will be set up across the eastern UP and Lake Superior region. Totals greater than 1" of snow (some melting) will be confined north of M-55 to the Mackinac Bridge, while totals closer to the 3"+ mark are confined from St. Ignace up to Paradise and Sault Ste. Marie. Additionally, the Keweenaw Peninsula also may see the highest snowfall totals too.
You may have noticed that we added a new color for this event only. Because there is a gradual change from rain to snow... freezing rain, and even sleet is expected with this event. Sleet is like the shared sibling between snow and freezing rain. Sleet is snow that melted to rain really high up immediately after falling from the clouds, but spent enough time in the cold sector after melting to reform into tiny pellets. Freezing rain, however, forms when there isn't enough time for the rain to reform back into those tiny ice pellets due to that warm sector close to the ground, but because the ground itself IS a cold sector, it freezes on contact. Yes, sleet is slippery, but due to its properties, it's not quite as impactful. Still, because of the sleet's size, it accumulates in tenths of an inch similar to snow instead of hundredths like freezing rain. As a result, much of the white trace-1" corridor will likely fall as <1" of both snow and sleet. Again, not a huge amount, but worth mentioning. Timing for this snowfall will be similar to that of the ice. Anytime from 6 am EST Friday through the end of the day Friday is the expected duration.
Winter weather advisories are now in effect for the eastern UP regarding this snowfall. We will have traffic impact maps and timing maps coming later this afternoon after our Christmas morning activities. See you all back here soon!
-- Trusted Partner of the Day --
Kuiper Tree Care | Call 616-828-8225 for your top option regarding all your west Michigan tree care needs!
The key does not match the colors on the map
what is orange?
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> Wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain later Thursday night through Friday. The highest snow accumulations will be across the eastern UP, with 2 to 5 inches of snow possible. The potential exists for up to 0.10” of ice south of M-72. Stay tuned for the latest updates! #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey
Anybody up in the Gaylord are or mancelona that knows how the trails are. I wanna ride Friday and or Saturday
Are Gaylord trails gonna be any good for Friday and or Saturday
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> The next shot for widespread precipitation over the state arrives late Thursday into Friday. Primarily snow is expected over the U.P. with higher chances for a wintry mix/freezing rain over lower Michigan. Post-holiday travel may be impacted across parts of the state. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyThe next shot for widespread precipitation over the state arrives late Thursday into Friday. Primarily snow is expected over the U.P. with higher chances for a wintry mix/freezing rain over lower Michigan. Post-holiday travel may be impacted across parts of the state.
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WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> Wintry mix peaks this morning, tapering to some drizzle / freezing drizzle late this afternoon into tonight. We trend milder into Saturday and especially Sunday before the next system builds into the region, bringing falling temps and, eventually, the return of snow. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey #soo #newberry
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> Here's the latest on the wintry mix tonight into Friday. Expect 3-6" of snow across the E UP, up to 2" of snow/sleet in northern lower N of M-72 in addition to a light glaze of ice, and up to 0.10" of ice accumulation south of M-72. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey #soo #newberryHere's the latest on the wintry mix tonight into Friday. Expect 3-6" of snow across the E UP, up to 2" of snow/sleet in northern lower N of M-72 in addition to a light glaze of ice, and up to 0.10" of ice accumulation south of M-72.
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> A messy winter system will bring impacts the region at varying times to the region tonight and much of Friday. Accumulating snow will be most impactful in eastern upper, while a messy mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain / drizzle impacts much of northern lower. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey
WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> On top of our second call ice map, here is our second call snowfall map for December 26th, 2025. It's a messy system with multiple precipitation types, so be sure to click on our page to go see our ice forecast.... #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyOn top of our second call ice map, here is our second call snowfall map for December 26th, 2025. It's a messy system with multiple precipitation types, so be sure to click on our page to go see our ice forecast.
Discussion
The north side of the low will have much colder air, and the deformation zone for this event will be set up across the eastern UP and Lake Superior region. Totals greater than 1" of snow (some melting) will be confined north of M-55 to the Mackinac Bridge, while totals closer to the 3"+ mark are confined from St. Ignace up to Paradise and Sault Ste. Marie. Additionally, the Keweenaw Peninsula also may see the highest snowfall totals too.
You may have noticed that we added a new color for this event only. Because there is a gradual change from rain to snow... freezing rain, and even sleet is expected with this event. Sleet is like the shared sibling between snow and freezing rain. Sleet is snow that melted to rain really high up immediately after falling from the clouds, but spent enough time in the cold sector after melting to reform into tiny pellets. Freezing rain, however, forms when there isn't enough time for the rain to reform back into those tiny ice pellets due to that warm sector close to the ground, but because the ground itself IS a cold sector, it freezes on contact. Yes, sleet is slippery, but due to its properties, it's not quite as impactful. Still, because of the sleet's size, it accumulates in tenths of an inch similar to snow instead of hundredths like freezing rain. As a result, much of the white trace-1" corridor will likely fall as <1" of both snow and sleet. Again, not a huge amount, but worth mentioning. Timing for this snowfall will be similar to that of the ice. Anytime from 6 am EST Friday through the end of the day Friday is the expected duration.
Winter weather advisories are now in effect for the eastern UP regarding this snowfall. We will have traffic impact maps and timing maps coming later this afternoon after our Christmas morning activities. See you all back here soon!
-- Trusted Partner of the Day --
Kuiper Tree Care | Call 616-828-8225 for your top option regarding all your west Michigan tree care needs!
The key does not match the colors on the map
what is orange?
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> Wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain later Thursday night through Friday. The highest snow accumulations will be across the eastern UP, with 2 to 5 inches of snow possible. The potential exists for up to 0.10” of ice south of M-72. Stay tuned for the latest updates! #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey
Anybody up in the Gaylord are or mancelona that knows how the trails are. I wanna ride Friday and or Saturday
Are Gaylord trails gonna be any good for Friday and or Saturday
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> The next shot for widespread precipitation over the state arrives late Thursday into Friday. Primarily snow is expected over the U.P. with higher chances for a wintry mix/freezing rain over lower Michigan. Post-holiday travel may be impacted across parts of the state. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyThe next shot for widespread precipitation over the state arrives late Thursday into Friday. Primarily snow is expected over the U.P. with higher chances for a wintry mix/freezing rain over lower Michigan. Post-holiday travel may be impacted across parts of the state.
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Latest Trail Reports – Quick Links
- Cadillac Area Trail Report – 12/26
- Munising Area Trail Report – 12/26
- Gaylord Area Trail Report – 12/26
- Frederic / Gaylord Area Trail Report – Sledheads of Frederic – 12/26
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- Ontonagon Area Trail Report – 12/26
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- Keweenaw Peninsula Trail Report – 12/25
- Jordan Valley Area Trail Report – 12/25
- Sidnaw – Western U.P. Trail Report – 12/25
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- Petoskey Area Trail Report – 12/25
- Grand Marais Area Trail Report – 12/24
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- Sidnaw – Western U.P. Trail Report – 12/24
- Gaylord Area Trail Report – 12/24
- Frederic / Gaylord Area Trail Report – Sledheads of Frederic – 12/24
- Newberry Area Trail Report – 12/24
- Ontonagon Area Trail Report – 12/24
- Lake Gogebic Trail Report – 12/23
- Jordan Valley Area Trail Report – 12/23
- Munising Area Trail Report – 12/23
- Watersmeet – Western U.P. Trail Report – 12/23
- Newberry Area Trail Report – 12/23
- Munising Area Trail Report – 12/22
- Paradise Area Trail Report – 12/22
- Traverse City Area Trail Report – 12/22
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