Ontonagon Trail Report – 01/16
ONTONAGON AREA UPDATE via Scott’s Superior Inn and Cabins >> 01/16
The big story this week is an Arctic vortex moving in, bringing colder temps and an impressive 2 feet of fresh snow by mid-week. The heaviest amounts coming Friday night where 8 to 15 inches are expected to drop overnight.
With trails already in good shape, this incoming snow is going to take conditions from good to “gooder” 😉
If you’ve been waiting to plan a trip, now’s the time—the Western UP is about to be absolutely dialed in for riding.
🏨 Riding the Western UP? Stay right on trail 12 at Scott’s Superior Inn & Cabins on Lake Superior. Easy access, cozy cabins, and the perfect home base for epic days on the sled. Book your stay and make a weekend of it!
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WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> One of the most absurd snow forecasts we’ve ever made here at MSC, we’ve had to add an impromptu orange color for higher totals.
Key Notes:
•Snow begins to work into Michigan late tonight, but becomes more widespread during the early morning hours of Sunday. This snow continues through Tuesday morning for the UP, and becomes a snow/freezing rain/sleet mix for northern lower Michigan beginning Sunday afternoon/evening.
•Winds will gust between 40-60mph statewide both on Sunday and Monday.
•This will be a full on blizzard for much of the Upper Peninsula
•Expect scattered power outages across the state
•Travel will be near impossible for the UP and northern lower
Snow totals will be between one and four FEET when all is said and done on Tuesday in the UP. Further south, a mix is expected which will keep accumulations lower, and also will provide a sharp cutoff of accumulations. The difference between a foot of snow and 2” may be the width of one county.
Further south, this system will end as snow for lower Michigan on Monday & Tuesday, which is why we have a wide area within a trace to an inch, and western lower in a 1-3” zone with wording of higher totals possible. We may need to adjust totals here as new data comes clearer for Tuesday.
Stay tuned for the icing portion of this forecast. Northern lower Michigan will see significant icing which is not shown or communicated in this forecast graphic or write up. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyOne of the most absurd snow forecasts we’ve ever made here at MSC, we’ve had to add an impromptu orange color for higher totals.
Key Notes:
•Snow begins to work into Michigan late tonight, but becomes more widespread during the early morning hours of Sunday. This snow continues through Tuesday morning for the UP, and becomes a snow/freezing rain/sleet mix for northern lower Michigan beginning Sunday afternoon/evening.
•Winds will gust between 40-60mph statewide both on Sunday and Monday.
•This will be a full on blizzard for much of the Upper Peninsula
•Expect scattered power outages across the state
•Travel will be near impossible for the UP and northern lower
Snow totals will be between one and four FEET when all is said and done on Tuesday in the UP. Further south, a mix is expected which will keep accumulations lower, and also will provide a sharp cutoff of accumulations. The difference between a foot of snow and 2” may be the width of one county.
Further south, this system will end as snow for lower Michigan on Monday & Tuesday, which is why we have a wide area within a trace to an inch, and western lower in a 1-3” zone with wording of higher totals possible. We may need to adjust totals here as new data comes clearer for Tuesday.
Stay tuned for the icing portion of this forecast. Northern lower Michigan will see significant icing which is not shown or communicated in this forecast graphic or write up.
WATERSMEET - WESTERN U.P. UPDATE via U.P. Thunder Riders Snowmobile Club >> TRAIL UPDATED- 3/14/26- Shout out to Steve and Brian R for breaking trail and laying a down the ribbon last night. Also Brian R got to take the new JD out on its maiden voyage! #westernup #snowphotos
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Confidence is increasing in a significant winter storm Saturday night into Monday night. Snowfall amounts between 1 to 3 feet could be near 2-day records in some areas. Strong winds and heavy snowfall rates likely result in blizzard conditions. Widespread impacts: very difficult to impossible travel, power outages, significant recovery time. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo
BESSEMER - WESTERN U.P. UPDATE via Trails-North Powersports LLC >> 🤟😎🌬️❄️❄️❄️ EPIC 💯 If your aren't here you are missing it 👀 Coming this Saturday thru Monday 1 to 2 more feet ❤️🤟🌬️❄️❄️❄️ #bessemer #westernup #snowphotos
LAKE GOGEBIC AREA UPDATE via Lake Gogebic News >> 🌥️ Friday afternoon update 🌥️
➡️ Rode the lake to the Hoop, then Trail 1 up to Konteka and back.
➡️ The new layer of snow on the lake is a foot deep. It is very heavy.
➡️ Get after it, but don’t romp on it. “Ride steady” is the key.
#lakegogebic #westernup #snowphotos
ONTONAGON AREA UPDATE via North Country Snowmobile Club UP >> NCSC groomers Wyatt and Jay are heading out from Ontonagon as I'm writing this. They will be doing the grade (Trail 137) to Greenland (Trail 12). They'll turn around and head back to the junction. The plan is to take 12 to LP Walsh Rd. Then take Trail 101 to 13. Then 13 back to the grade (137) and take the grade back to Ontonagon.
Tonight Groom Chad, out of White Pine, will do Lake of the Clouds (LOTC) (Trail 1) and South Boundary (Trail 11).
Please ride right and ride carefully. There are still water areas and blowing snow, reducing visibility.
Be safe and please come North to DA UP, and enjoy our winter snowmobiling season. You should be able to ride until the grooming stops at the end of the month. #ontonagon #westernupNCSC groomers Wyatt and Jay are heading out from Ontonagon as I'm writing this. They will be doing the grade (Trail 137) to Greenland (Trail 12). They'll turn around and head back to the junction. The plan is to take 12 to LP Walsh Rd. Then take Trail 101 to 13. Then 13 back to the grade (137) and take the grade back to Ontonagon.
Tonight Groom Chad, out of White Pine, will do Lake of the Clouds (LOTC) (Trail 1) and South Boundary (Trail 11).
Please ride right and ride carefully. There are still water areas and blowing snow, reducing visibility.
Be safe and please come North to DA UP, and enjoy our winter snowmobiling season. You should be able to ride until the grooming stops at the end of the month.
WATERSMEET - WESTERN U.P. UPDATE via U.P. Thunder Riders Snowmobile Club >> UPDATE 3/13/26- We have received 8-10 inches with the last two snowfalls. Groomers will be out today and tomorrow! Enjoy it while it lasts! #watersmeet #westernup
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Although some areas in the UP are experiencing a lull in the snowfall this morning, we expect the snow to fill back into the area from west to east through early afternoon. Winds shift to N/NE, resulting in reduced visibility in snow and blowing snow, especially in open areas and along Lake Superior. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #sooAlthough some areas in the UP are experiencing a lull in the snowfall this morning, we expect the snow to fill back into the area from west to east through early afternoon. Winds shift to N/NE, resulting in reduced visibility in snow and blowing snow, especially in open areas and along Lake Superior.
WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> A second, more significant winter storm is coming Sunday into Monday, and it still looks like a whopper. Confidence is increasing in the following:
•More than a foot of snow for the UP and/or far northern lower Michigan
•Significant icing that may impact the power grid
•Wind gusts that could top 45mph
•Blizzard conditions
We plan to release our first call snow/ice/wind maps for this event later this afternoon. We encourage you to begin preparations as this event could be our biggest winter storm we’ve seen in quite some time. Stay tuned for further details. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyA second, more significant winter storm is coming Sunday into Monday, and it still looks like a whopper. Confidence is increasing in the following:
•More than a foot of snow for the UP and/or far northern lower Michigan
•Significant icing that may impact the power grid
•Wind gusts that could top 45mph
•Blizzard conditions
We plan to release our first call snow/ice/wind maps for this event later this afternoon. We encourage you to begin preparations as this event could be our biggest winter storm we’ve seen in quite some time. Stay tuned for further details.
LAKE GOGEBIC UPDATE via Lake Gogebic News >> ❄️ Friday the 13th daylight view!
❄️ We have significant drifting from the overnight winds- it’s fun! We have about 5” of new snow.
❄️ There are places with deep snow and other areas that are icy and wind-swept. The snow is heavy, but lighter than some of the other stuff we had last week.
❄️ The path is cleared to the sauna! Next video update… afternoon ride on the lake! #lakegogebic #westernup #snowphotos
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Good morning,
A quick hitting, strong clipper continues to bring widespread moderate to heavy snow and high winds to the area this morning. After a brief lull in snow around daybreak, an increase in northerly winds and lake effect snow will return hazardous conditions to the north winds snowbelts this early afternoon.
Our attention then turns to a major winter storm set to impact the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region this weekend into early next week. Confidence is continuing to grow regarding significant snowfall accumulations (potentially record breaking) and blizzard conditions that may result in widespread impacts.
Please view this morning's informational briefing at the link below for additional details on both today's and this weekend's storm systems.
www.weather.gov/media/mqt/DssPacket.pdf #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo
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