Gaylord Area Trail Report – 02/18
Gaylord Bureau – February 18, 2025 9:07 AM It just keeps snowing in Gaylord! Unfortunately, the trails are in fair shape right now due to a groomer being down with a mechanical issue. Trail 4 east and west cannot be groomed until the tractor is repaired. The crew is doing their best to keep trail 7 in shape, but with only one tractor on the job, it’s a tough task to cover everything. Stay safe out there, and know that the grooming team is working hard to get the trails back to their best for you. Check out this live feed to see trail #7, just north of Gaylord. A few things to remember about our groomers and trails: – Groomers are out there to help you have a better riding experience and always have the right of way. Want to be ready? Get a free trail map delivered right to your mailbox and plan your adventure! As always, check back with us for updates and weather reports. <> http://www.gaylordmichigan.net/snowmobile-trail-report-114/ <> Brutal winter, Got a great ride in yesterday but it was brutal, snow , 2 to 3 feet, deep. Off trail even with a long track got buried several times. Snow like this is just incredible especially with the past few years with hardly any. I started out of Sledheads and headed to the apple orchard to cut across to another trail, almost stuck right away and I was by myself. Got back to the road in a hurry cause I would still be stuck out there. Not where I wanted to spend the night. Anyways today very c old and windy, its 12:30 now and only seen a few sleds. Well almost time for me to plow again so thanks for checking in. Pics below from yesterdays ride. Thanks for checking in. Pete http://frederic-mi.com/category/trail-conditions/ FREDERIC - GAYLORD AREA UPDATE via Sledheads of Frederic , Michigan Snowmobiling >> We lost alot yesterday, made it to about 40 degrees, lots of slush and very dissapointing considering how good it was. Winds are stiff and when this slush hardens up from the cold its gonna make it really rough. So here I sit in Sledheads and it will be a great day for pushing slush and watching t.v. Stop by and say hi if you are in the area. I do still have my rental cottage avaiilable if you want to come and just camp out there for the winter. I wish I had a better report. Thanks for checking in. Pics below are from this morning. Pete #gaylord #snowphotos frederic-mi.com WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> Combination of falling temperatures, increasingly gusty winds, and accumulating lake enhanced snow showers will create hazardous travel across parts of the area today. Local power outages due to the gusty winds are possible. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyCombination of falling temperatures, increasingly gusty winds, and accumulating lake enhanced snow showers will create hazardous travel across parts of the area today. Local power outages due to the gusty winds are possible. FREDERIC - GAYLORD AREA UPDATE via Sledheads of Frederic , Michigan Snowmobiling >> Its misty rain and 37 degrees on this thursday morning in downtown Frederic. Roads are wet. I finally did see some sleds out and about yesterday, 4 at the Frederic Inn and 5 at Bear Lake Inn and a few guys that drove in here this morning they said they stopped by here after I left yesterday. They had rode up to the bridge and back as they were from Ohio and staying here in Frederic. There is still alot of snow in the woods but things are getting slushy. Pics below are from this morning. Its supposed to drop in temp tonight but they are showing 30s on some of next week. Thats the best I can tell you. Thanks for checking in. Pete #gaylord #snowphotos frederic-mi.com 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. WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> After a mild and occasionally rainy day today, much colder temperatures arrive this evening through Friday. Temperatures are expected to fall a good 10-20 degrees this evening through tonight. leading to a potential flash freeze of wet roads. Renewed snow chances will accompany this colder air with several inches of accumulation, especially in the snow belts of northern lower & eastern upper. In addition, strong winds upwards of 35-45 mph late tonight into Friday will lead to blowing snow. All said, travel will become hazardous later this evening through Friday across much of northern Michigan. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey JORDAN VALLEY AREA UPDATE via Jordan Valley Trails Council >> Current condition’s are 32* and drizzle. Today’s warmup is melting/settling the snow quickly. We’ll regroup Friday as temps drop and hope the snowfall comes back. <> <>
– Please move off the trail when groomers are approaching and allow them to safely pass.
– If you approach a groomer from behind, kindly wait for the operator to signal you to pass.
– Grooming can take place at any time during the day or night, so stay alert.
– Always ride on the right side of the trail.
– Ride safe and ride sober.Postings From Regional Pages On Facebook
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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Apex Restoration & Mitigation | Call 810-202-3586 today for all restoration needs across Genesee county and the thumb!
Prior to this warmup, trails had 2-5” of compacted snow on them, which should give us a good solid base going forward.
In just 2 days, snow has dropped 2+” according to the National Weather Service snow gauge. The Antrim County Snowmobile Club snow gauge is sitting at 4” #jordanvalley #gaylord #snowphotos
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