SAULT STE. MARIE UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association – 12/01
12/1 Noon report.
Opening day! Well, sort of! Gated areas such as 49 south of the Soo, 480 in the Spile Dam, and 472 between Kinross and north of Rudyard remain closed at this time. Those areas did not get nearly the snow that the soo did and have open water. We are letting those freeze up and get more snow.
Pete is out on his sled clearing trees on trail 8 from the Soo to Raco. There are water holes as you can see, as well as trees down. Sounds like from Ashmun Bay trailhead to South Street is an absolute mess of deep ruts. We’ll get to that when we can. Mike and others are at the barn looking over the Tuckers and drags one last time.
And here’s the best news- Raco Dave is taking the Pisten Bully from the Soo to Raco on trail 8, behind Pete and crew on sleds. As expected, it’s a mess with previously unfrozen ground. We hope that Dave can pan and smooth the wet areas in as he goes to allow them to freeze flat instead of rutted up.
Again, we can’t and won’t stop you from riding, but ask that you exercise extreme caution, and please, please try to use smooth throttle control to give us a chance to set up a smooth base instead of a rutted one.
Please subscribe to our trail system on Groomer Tracker. You can see real time where we are and we earn $5 for every subscription. A win-win!
Please know that the deep snow is concentrated to mostly just the Soo, so there’s not a ton of good riding to be had yet. We will update soon! ❄️❄️❄️
SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 2/13/26 Good morning all! We absolutely love receiving messages like this! Thank you, Stewart K. for sending this and for your feedback! “Had the great pleasure of meeting Richard on the trail yesterday on our ride from the Sault to Brimley. The trails were fantastic. Thank you.” Stewart came upon Rich cutting up a tree in the trail and stopped to help him👏🏼👏🏼 Rich is 80 some years young and has been volunteering nearly as long as I’ve been alive. He’s a treasure to our club, and we so appreciate his service! Thank you again, Stewart! ❄️❄️❄️ #soo #soo0213#snowphotos... See MoreSee Less
SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> Good evening everyone! We would like to extend our deepest gratitude and appreciation to Paula and Carl with the Motor City SledHeads LLC, as well as all of these awesome people who participated in their annual couples ride here in the Soo and surrounding area 2 weekends ago! I was fortunate to join them, and I had a great time! We appreciate their very generous donation to our club! We hope you’ll come back again! ❄️❄️❄️ #soo #soo0212b#snowphotos... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Warm temperatures are expected today, especially over the interior west and central, before a cold front passing through mainly the eastern U.P. brings clouds and colder temperatures late this afternoon through tonight. Some fog, drizzle, and freezing drizzle is possible behind the cold front this afternoon through tonight. #miweather #keweenaw#westernup#marquette#munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaWarm temperatures are expected today, especially over the interior west and central, before a cold front passing through mainly the eastern U.P. brings clouds and colder temperatures late this afternoon through tonight. Some fog, drizzle, and freezing drizzle is possible behind the cold front this afternoon through tonight. #906wx #miwx ... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> Light snow chances linger today, mainly across eastern Upper Michigan, with highs in the mid to upper 30s to low 40s. A stretch of quieter weather follows this weekend into early next week, featuring partly sunny skies and temperatures moderating into the upper 30s and mid 40s. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie#traversecity#petoskey #soo #newberryLight snow chances linger today, mainly across eastern Upper Michigan, with highs in the mid to upper 30s to low 40s. A stretch of quieter weather follows this weekend into early next week, featuring partly sunny skies and temperatures moderating into the upper 30s and mid 40s. #MIwx ... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Warm and mostly dry conditions are expected to finish the week. Expecting most locations to warm above freezing during the day and then fall below freezing overnight. Many locations in western and southern Upper Michigan may warm above 40 Friday and Saturday! #miweather #keweenaw#westernup#marquette#munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaWarm and mostly dry conditions are expected to finish the week. Expecting most locations to warm above freezing during the day and then fall below freezing overnight. Many locations in western and southern Upper Michigan may warm above 40 Friday and Saturday! ... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> We know you'll pass by this post for snowfall today, but here on February 12th, 2026, it's quite a reflective moment to see just how far we have come this winter. Just a couple weeks ago it was lake effect snow every single day. Today, a light band of 1-3" near Munising is all we will need to write home about. We even tossed in some humor for those not in a designated snowfall zone. A couple slick spots will pop up along M-28 near Munising, and perhaps around Petoskey if a longer lake effect band happens to form, but this is more unlikely than likely. Enjoy your rather snow-free day here in Michigan in early February. If you've read this far, comment your favorite memory of winter to this point. - Chief Meteorologist Joel Fritsma #miweather #newberry #soo #petoskey#gaylordWe know you'll pass by this post for snowfall today, but here on February 12th, 2026, it's quite a reflective moment to see just how far we have come this winter. Just a couple weeks ago it was lake effect snow every single day. Today, a light band of 1-3" near Munising is all we will need to write home about. We even tossed in some humor for those not in a designated snowfall zone. A couple slick spots will pop up along M-28 near Munising, and perhaps around Petoskey if a longer lake effect band happens to form, but this is more unlikely than likely.
Enjoy your rather snow-free day here in Michigan in early February. If you've read this far, comment your favorite memory of winter to this point.
- Chief Meteorologist Joel Fritsma
-- Trusted Partner of the Day -- Mike Hayes Roofing & Siding | Call 810-984-4564 for all your exterior home needs across Sanilac and St. Clair counties! ... See MoreSee Less
SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 2/11/26 A few shots from Bryan of the city trails. Warm daytime temps are coming, but we’ll be out when it’s below 30 as we move through this tiny warm up. Things are absolutely excellent right now! Thank you Bryan and all operators! ❄️❄️❄️ #soo #soo0211b#snowphotos... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> High pressure will gradually build into the region today and Thursday. This will slowly diminish lake effect snow showers from west to east. It will also help usher in a warm and mostly dry period. Most can expect above freezing temperatures during the day and below freezing temperatures overnight into at least early next week. #miweather #keweenaw#westernup#marquette#munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaHigh pressure will gradually build into the region today and Thursday. This will slowly diminish lake effect snow showers from west to east. It will also help usher in a warm and mostly dry period. Most can expect above freezing temperatures during the day and below freezing temperatures overnight into at least early next week. #906wx #miwx ... See MoreSee Less
SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 2/11/2026 Good morning all! Yesterday and overnight Lane was out on the 472 to 480 loop, Dennis did the 49 and 494 loop, and the Bryan did the city trails and down 49 to 8 mile. The kinross crew did 49 up to 8 mile. Everything is in great shape with the 4-5” of fresh snow that we received over the past couple of days. Here are some photos from Lane’s run. Thank you to all of our operators, especially those that are picking up the slack due to the one machine that is still down. I hope to have an update on that soon!❄️❄️❄️ **to join or donate, please visit our website at www.sootrails.org** #soo #soo0211#snowphotos... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> Additional snow is expected across parts of the area today. Those north of the bridge will see around another 1” through this afternoon with most areas getting less than 1”. Freezing drizzle will be possible across northern Michigan into this afternoon. Slippery roads may result in localized hazardous travel, so be sure to use caution while driving! #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie#traversecity#petoskey #soo #newberryAdditional snow is expected across parts of the area today. Those north of the bridge will see around another 1” through this afternoon with most areas getting less than 1”. Freezing drizzle will be possible across northern Michigan into this afternoon. Slippery roads may result in localized hazardous travel, so be sure to use caution while driving! ... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Key Messages: Overnight wet snow and light freezing rain could lead to some slick roads this morning! Lake effect snow showers and gusty winds could lead to some rapidly changing visibility on the roads through tonight, especially close to Lake Superior and in the Keweenaw. Late this week, temperatures warm up, including multiple freeze-thaw cycles. Lake ice may become hazardous! #miweather #keweenaw#westernup#marquette#munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaKey Messages: Overnight wet snow and light freezing rain could lead to some slick roads this morning! Lake effect snow showers and gusty winds could lead to some rapidly changing visibility on the roads through tonight, especially close to Lake Superior and in the Keweenaw. Late this week, temperatures warm up, including multiple freeze-thaw cycles. Lake ice may become hazardous! ... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> A brief period of freezing rain and snow is expected after sunset before quickly changing over to all snow. Untreated surfaces and secondary roads that are snow packed could become slippery. Lake effect snow and blowing snow on Tuesday. #miweather #keweenaw#westernup#marquette#munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaA brief period of freezing rain and snow is expected after sunset before quickly changing over to all snow. Untreated surfaces and secondary roads that are snow packed could become slippery. Lake effect snow and blowing snow on Tuesday. ... See MoreSee Less