Harbor Springs Area Trail Report – 12/02
HARBOR SPRINGS AREA UPDATE via Harbor Springs Snowmobile Club >> 12/02 ❄️ Snow totals are in! We picked up 15”–24” over the last two days — an awesome start to the season! This week we’ll start rolling the grade, and this weekend we’ll be opening gates + panning in the woods. ⚠️ If you’re out riding, please be careful! The ground is not frozen, there are open water holes, washouts that are not filled in & missing signs on 717 (Pellston) & 71 (Center Trail) — those are going up this weekend. 🚧 Trail 71 Alert: A dozer will be working between State Rd & Beacon Hill Rd tomorrow fixing a dangerous washout. Avoid this area! 🌲 Logging: Trail 71 south of Brutus Rd (starting at Valley Rd) will have active logging for the next 3-ish weeks. 🙋♂️ We Need Volunteers! Our small group of dedicated volunteers all work full-time jobs — and we are TIRED. The season just started and we cannot keep up without more help. If you love these trails, please consider pitching in. Every bit helps! ❤️ 🗓️ Upcoming Meetings & Events 📍 Groomer Operator Meeting 📍 Monthly Club Meeting 🍕 All-You-Can-Eat Pizza Night! Come out, enjoy some great food, and support the club! <> <> WEATHER UPDATE via 9&10 News >> We track another clipper system delivering more light snow Wednesday AM followed by breezy NW winds and lake effect snow Wednesday PM into Thursday. WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> Don't look at us, we're just the messenger, but more lake effect snow is on the table for Wednesday into Thursday, December 3rd & 4th, 2025. Some lighter flurries from these bands may make it over to eastern Michigan as well, but the odds are stacked against. WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> This 1030 pm radar image shows heavy snow in parts of central/northern Emmet Co, and Mackinac Island. Local accumulations rates of up to 2" per hour are possible. In the yellow, localized accumulations up to 1" per hour are possible. This activity will get shunted east late overnight. WEATHER UPDATE via Meteorologist Brad Sugden >> Don't forget. Highly localized and intenselake effect kicks in today and lasts into Tuesday. Locally, well over a foot is possible! #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> Lake effect snow will target many lakeshore counties this afternoon into Tuesday morning. Heaviest snowfall is expected across northern Emmet and Cheboygan counties where localized amounts of 12” or more are possible. Rapid drops in visibility and localized hazardous travel are expected at times, especially along parts of US-31 and I-75 south of the bridge tonight into early Tuesday morning. Be sure to use caution while traveling! #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyLake effect snow will target many lakeshore counties this afternoon into Tuesday morning. Heaviest snowfall is expected across northern Emmet and Cheboygan counties where localized amounts of 12” or more are possible. Rapid drops in visibility and localized hazardous travel are expected at times, especially along parts of US-31 and I-75 south of the bridge tonight into early Tuesday morning. Be sure to use caution while traveling! HARBOR SPRINGS AREA UPDATE via Harbor Springs Snowmobile Club >> Today marks the official start of the 2025–2026 snowmobile season! WEATHER UPDATE via 9&10 News >> Wintry Update: WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> 11/30/25, 4pm... NW to NNW flow lake effect snow will continue into tonight. A few inches are possible for localized areas. Briefly quieter Monday before SW flow lake effect snow ramps up Monday night, bringing some accumulations to the Lake MI coast, esp between Petoskey and the Straits. The next big disturbance passes through Wednesday and Wednesday night, bringing a much colder air mass into the region for Thursday. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey11/30/25, 4pm... NW to NNW flow lake effect snow will continue into tonight. A few inches are possible for localized areas. Briefly quieter Monday before SW flow lake effect snow ramps up Monday night, bringing some accumulations to the Lake MI coast, esp between Petoskey and the Straits. The next big disturbance passes through Wednesday and Wednesday night, bringing a much colder air mass into the region for Thursday. WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> What actually fell vs our forecast… 🎯 <> Latest Trail Reports – Quick Links <>
Wednesday, 12/3 at 6:30 PM — Pellston Barn
Thursday, 12/4 at 7:00 PM — Harbor Barn
Tuesday 12/9 at 5:00 PM — Moose Jaw JunctionPostings From Regional Pages On Facebook
Temperatures get much colder Wednesday night into late week. Wind chills for many Thursday AM will be hovering near or below zero.
Another clipper system will be possible getting into our Friday.
Forecast 12-2-25: www.9and10news.com/weather/
-Meteorologist John Gross #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey 
Discussion
As a cold front swings through, our favorable wind direction, water-to-air temperature difference, and other favorable lake effect ingredients ramp back up. At the current time, we are seeing enough signs for decent lake effect accumulation, primarily across the east-central UP, and slopes of Elmira/Gaylord. We begin with a couple 2-5" zones, but these areas may quickly see a jump to the next category up at our final call update tomorrow. Totals of 1-3" in west Michigan and the Porcupine Mountains will also suffice for now, but a few locations may see an upgrade to 2-5" where confidence improves. It's Michigan, it's meteorological winter, so while it may not be breaking news, it's still weather news that we must report. As meteorologists, it IS our job after all.
Timing
Primarily from noon Wednesday through 6 pm EST Thursday. Extensions for this time period are being monitored into very early Friday.
More weather updates coming to you throughout the winter, so make sure to follow us here at Michigan Storm Chasers to never be out of the loop again when it comes to statewide weather updates, both snow and severe. While you're here, check out our trusted partner of the day, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Detroit to donate to families in need this holiday season! Visit online at rmhc-detroit.org/ for all information. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyDon't look at us, we're just the messenger, but more lake effect snow is on the table for Wednesday into Thursday, December 3rd & 4th, 2025. Some lighter flurries from these bands may make it over to eastern Michigan as well, but the odds are stacked against.
Discussion
As a cold front swings through, our favorable wind direction, water-to-air temperature difference, and other favorable lake effect ingredients ramp back up. At the current time, we are seeing enough signs for decent lake effect accumulation, primarily across the east-central UP, and slopes of Elmira/Gaylord. We begin with a couple 2-5" zones, but these areas may quickly see a jump to the next category up at our final call update tomorrow. Totals of 1-3" in west Michigan and the Porcupine Mountains will also suffice for now, but a few locations may see an upgrade to 2-5" where confidence improves. It's Michigan, it's meteorological winter, so while it may not be breaking news, it's still weather news that we must report. As meteorologists, it IS our job after all.
Timing
Primarily from noon Wednesday through 6 pm EST Thursday. Extensions for this time period are being monitored into very early Friday.
More weather updates coming to you throughout the winter, so make sure to follow us here at Michigan Storm Chasers to never be out of the loop again when it comes to statewide weather updates, both snow and severe. While you're here, check out our trusted partner of the day, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Detroit to donate to families in need this holiday season! Visit online at rmhc-detroit.org/ for all information.
Travelers in these areas can expected potentially hazardous travel conditions late this evening and overnight. #miweather #petoskey #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecityThis 1030 pm radar image shows heavy snow in parts of central/northern Emmet Co, and Mackinac Island. Local accumulations rates of up to 2" per hour are possible. In the yellow, localized accumulations up to 1" per hour are possible. This activity will get shunted east late overnight.
Travelers in these areas can expected potentially hazardous travel conditions late this evening and overnight.
We’re kicking things off with 8–12” of fresh snow, which is exciting to see. However, please remember that the ground isn’t frozen yet, water holes are still open, and we do not have enough snow to cover washouts or ruts. Trails are not rideable at this time.
It’s been a long road to get things back in shape, and we’re proud of the progress—but there’s still a little work to do. A few signs still need to be reset, and we have one or two washouts we’re aiming to fix soon.
This month’s meetings will cover trail updates, remaining projects, and preparation for the upcoming busy season. We’d love to see everyone there!
📍 Groomer Operator Meeting
Wednesday, 12/3 at 6:30 PM — Pellston Barn
📍 Monthly Club Meeting
Thursday, 12/4 at 7:00 PM — Harbor Barn
🍕 All-You-Can-Eat Pizza Night!
Tuesday 12/9 at 5:00 PM — Moose Jaw Junction
Come out, enjoy some great food, and support the club!
Stay tuned for updates, and thank you for your patience and support! ❄️🛷 #harborsprings #petoskey #snowphotosToday marks the official start of the 2025–2026 snowmobile season!
We’re kicking things off with 8–12” of fresh snow, which is exciting to see. However, please remember that the ground isn’t frozen yet, water holes are still open, and we do not have enough snow to cover washouts or ruts. Trails are not rideable at this time.
It’s been a long road to get things back in shape, and we’re proud of the progress—but there’s still a little work to do. A few signs still need to be reset, and we have one or two washouts we’re aiming to fix soon.
This month’s meetings will cover trail updates, remaining projects, and preparation for the upcoming busy season. We’d love to see everyone there!
📍 Groomer Operator Meeting
Wednesday, 12/3 at 6:30 PM — Pellston Barn
📍 Monthly Club Meeting
Thursday, 12/4 at 7:00 PM — Harbor Barn
🍕 All-You-Can-Eat Pizza Night!
Tuesday 12/9 at 5:00 PM — Moose Jaw Junction
Come out, enjoy some great food, and support the club!
Stay tuned for updates, and thank you for your patience and support! ❄️🛷
Lake effect snow continues tonight downwind of the big lakes into Monday AM.
A few more inches for the classic snowbelts into tonight.
NW winds tonight go more SW by Monday PM.
More lake effect near the Lake MI shoreline, Straits & U.P. late Monday into Tuesday with some locally higher totals.
Another system Wednesday late AM & PM could bring more snow.
-Meteorologist John Gross #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey
Pretty spot on! We had very minor fluctuations, which I know Meteorologist Joel Fritsma will likely dive into a full analysis later on this week, but overall the forecast was VERY solid.
Let us know how much you got!
(FYI: The UP has lake effect snow ramping up today which will add to their totals. That WAS included in our forecast but it HAS NOT yet fallen) #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey