Munising Area Trail Report – 02/20
MUNISING AREA UPDATE via Alger County Sorva – 2/20 TRAIL REPORT, Monday, February 20, 2023 6:00 a.m. DUSTING OF SNOW AND ICY AREAS! No real changes yet, overall most of our main trails are in a good condition. Trails are hard and icy in areas so be careful in the corners especially. On Trail 418 from just East of AuTrain West to Trail 417 South the base is icy, gone in sections and gravely. The remainder of our Trails have a hard, fairly flat base with a thin layer of sugary snow on top. Heavy snow in the forecast so conditions should be improving. Keep a close eye on trail conditions as you ride and stay right. Stay tuned for updates! DETAILED REPORT HERE: https://www.algersorva.com/trailreport/02-20-2023/ Today’s Trail Report brought to you by: Holiday inn Express, Munising, MI: <> MUNISING AREA UPDATE via TNT Trenary Northern Trails – 2/17 We were able to get a full groom in tonight. That being said, much of the trail is very icy, I was not able to get good results tonight, and much of the trail is still going to be rough. Not terribly rough, but there will be some chatter bumps, many corners will be bumpy due to lack of fresh snow and the trail being mostly ice. We can’t groom ice. However, sections of the trail have received some fresh snow tonight while I was grooming. The Chatham area had 3" of fresh snow to work into the trail tonight, and it was still snowing when I got done. Some drifting is going on as well, and will add to the bumps during the day. There are a few of the problem water areas that aren’t frozen back up yet after the warm weather and rain. More than likely, they won’t effect a snowmobile, but the weight of the groomer broke through some of them. Overall, the trail is in better shape than I expected after the weather we just had. Is the trail rideable? Yes, very much. Are there bare spots? Yes, but not many and they are avoidable. Is it smooth? Some areas yes, other areas, no. I will recommend, if you have ice scratches, I would use them, if you don’t have them, it would be a good thing to consider buying if you plan on riding any trail here in the U.P. Ice is everywhere, so prepare properly, and don’t expect perfect trails, take it slower than normal, and enjoy what we have, it’s all we have for now. Do your snow, dance, ride right, have fun, and stay safe out there. <> <> REGIONAL TRAIL REPORTS Visit Alger County SORVA Facebook Page >>>> <> Visit Alger County SORVA Trail Report >>>> <> Visit TNT Trenary Northern Trails Facebook Page >>>> <> WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> Lake effect totals through Friday afternoon, December 19th, 2025 have been updated slightly to account for latest shifts in atmospheric conditions. MUNISING AREA UPDATE via TNT Trenary Northern Trails >> This is the earliest we were able to successfully pan the whole trail since we have started grooming. Brandon was able to get almost everything relatively smooth. We need a little more snow to fill the ditch and freeze in the hole along CO RD 456. But the rest of the trail is in rideable early season shape. This year is shaping up to be far better than the last 2 years for snowfall in our area. With luck, we can have a successful season and with your help, we can keep it a safe one also. Please ride with caution and please ride safe all year! #munising #snowphotos WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Active weather is expected for the remainder of the work week. Winds pick up tonight, gusting to 25-45mph (highest in the western and north-central UP), falling back into Thursday morning. Light rain and patchy mixed precipitation return Thursday morning, transitioning over to widespread snow late Thursday into Thursday night before tapering off to light lake effect snow Friday. The heaviest snow accumulations will be across the far western UP. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> The UP will experience some impactful weather to round out the work week. Tonight, a Wind Advisory is in effect for the Keweenaw Peninsula for 45+ mph W to NW winds. Then Wednesday night through Friday morning will bring gusty winds and a wintry mix of rain, freezing rain, and/or snow becoming widespread accumulating snow (with the highest chances of multiple inches of snowfall over the north half). WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Back to back events are expected this week. Expect strong winds this afternoon and tonight, then strong winds, falling temperatures, and snowfall on Thursday and Thursday night. The strong winds for both events night may result in power outages and lakeshore flooding/erosion and/or weakening lake ice. Temperatures will also climb up above freezing today for the first time since late November, with highs remaining in the 30s for the next few days. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea <> Latest Trail Reports – Quick Links <>
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Discussion
As temperatures fall early Friday, moisture pools back in, mixed with colder air over the warmer lakes, turning on the lake effect machine for both of the Great Lakes that influence our normal lake effect zones. A respectable 1-3" to 2-5" is possible in the fairly typical areas shown on the map. The narrow lane of higher elevation across the Keweenaw Peninsula and Porcupine Mountains are most-likely to experience totals exceeding 6". You may have noticed our one main change was the expansion of T-1" over to the east side of the state just as a general precaution to any snow squalls that make it across the state. Not everyone will get a rogue snow squall, but it is in the odds for nearly everyone. A snow squall is a thin, but intense band of quick snow that can produce at least half an inch of snow in minutes time, while knocking visibility down from 10 miles, to a quarter mile in moments time. Additionally, a quick coating of snow may hide any ice that was able to form from the freeze later tonight. Lake effect snow and snow squalls are poised to start later this evening around 8 pm EST (earlier for the western UP), and run primarily through 1 pm EST Friday. A couple lake effect bands may last through 6 pm across northern Michigan near Gaylord, and the central UP near Munising.
Each area is never guaranteed the totals shown on the screen. This is why we call it a prediction. The totals that are shown however do have the greatest odds of occurring. Yes, we are still trying to find that crystal ball, but no luck to this point. Follow us here at Michigan Storm Chasers for forecast updates, and a little humor on the side, throughout the next few days, and as always, 365 days a year! #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyLake effect totals through Friday afternoon, December 19th, 2025 have been updated slightly to account for latest shifts in atmospheric conditions.
Discussion
As temperatures fall early Friday, moisture pools back in, mixed with colder air over the warmer lakes, turning on the lake effect machine for both of the Great Lakes that influence our normal lake effect zones. A respectable 1-3" to 2-5" is possible in the fairly typical areas shown on the map. The narrow lane of higher elevation across the Keweenaw Peninsula and Porcupine Mountains are most-likely to experience totals exceeding 6". You may have noticed our one main change was the expansion of T-1" over to the east side of the state just as a general precaution to any snow squalls that make it across the state. Not everyone will get a rogue snow squall, but it is in the odds for nearly everyone. A snow squall is a thin, but intense band of quick snow that can produce at least half an inch of snow in minutes time, while knocking visibility down from 10 miles, to a quarter mile in moments time. Additionally, a quick coating of snow may hide any ice that was able to form from the freeze later tonight. Lake effect snow and snow squalls are poised to start later this evening around 8 pm EST (earlier for the western UP), and run primarily through 1 pm EST Friday. A couple lake effect bands may last through 6 pm across northern Michigan near Gaylord, and the central UP near Munising.
Each area is never guaranteed the totals shown on the screen. This is why we call it a prediction. The totals that are shown however do have the greatest odds of occurring. Yes, we are still trying to find that crystal ball, but no luck to this point. Follow us here at Michigan Storm Chasers for forecast updates, and a little humor on the side, throughout the next few days, and as always, 365 days a year!
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For additional information, view the full briefing packet here: www.weather.gov/media/mqt/DssPacket.pdf #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaThe UP will experience some impactful weather to round out the work week. Tonight, a Wind Advisory is in effect for the Keweenaw Peninsula for 45+ mph W to NW winds. Then Wednesday night through Friday morning will bring gusty winds and a wintry mix of rain, freezing rain, and/or snow becoming widespread accumulating snow (with the highest chances of multiple inches of snowfall over the north half).
For additional information, view the full briefing packet here: www.weather.gov/media/mqt/DssPacket.pdf