Gaylord Area Trail Report – 12/12
Gaylord Bureau – December 10, 2025 The trails have seen some nice snow this week! The south loop has low snow levels, but the rest of the trails are in good shape with plenty of snow. Please note, due to the ice storm, there is a logging operation near Turtle Lake Road and Douglas Lake Road – the logging trucks are using the trail as a road. The trails are passable, but they’re in poor shape. Proceed with caution in these areas. If this winter is anything like last year, it’s going to be another epic one! Want to be ready? Get a free trail map delivered right to your mailbox and plan your adventure! Check out a live view of trail # 7 here. 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/ <> No new snow overnight. 25 degrees on a cloudy friday morning in downtown Frederic. Just had a group of guys ride in from down around Dayton OHio. They rode to the bridge yesterday. Picture below is of them outside here at Sledheads this morning. Another clipper supposed to come tonight. So we are set on snow and sled traffic has still been slow still. Lets see how it goes this weekend. Here is a video we made years ago. https://youtu.be/luoEuA9DzqQ?si=jDZlpzDlwjiup8f7 Thanks for checking in. Pete http://frederic-mi.com/category/trail-conditions/ WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> Accumulating snow returns to the Northwoods later this afternoon into Saturday as a cold front swings across the area, ushering in a much colder air mass for the weekend. Several inches of snow is expected across parts of northwest lower and the eastern U.P. by Saturday morning with additional lake effect snow continuing through Saturday. Below zero wind chills are expected for most areas late tonight through Saturday. Wind gusts of 25-35+ mph will lead to patchy blowing/drifting snow, especially across open areas. Quickly dropping temps tonight may freeze wet roads by Saturday morning. Combination of snow, winds, and temperatures will lead to hazardous travel conditions across parts of the area through Saturday morning. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey #soo #newberryAccumulating snow returns to the Northwoods later this afternoon into Saturday as a cold front swings across the area, ushering in a much colder air mass for the weekend. Several inches of snow is expected across parts of northwest lower and the eastern U.P. by Saturday morning with additional lake effect snow continuing through Saturday. Below zero wind chills are expected for most areas late tonight through Saturday. Wind gusts of 25-35+ mph will lead to patchy blowing/drifting snow, especially across open areas. Quickly dropping temps tonight may freeze wet roads by Saturday morning. Combination of snow, winds, and temperatures will lead to hazardous travel conditions across parts of the area through Saturday morning. WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> The switch is being flipped into the "on" position for lake effect snow this weekend. Much of what you see won't fall today, but as our extremely cold air mass pushes in late tonight, flurries will begin to fly. Much of the higher totals begin beyond 8 pm EST tonight. Lakeshore areas should prepare for travel delays primarily after this time beginning tonight. Heavy lake effect snow will continue on Saturday thanks to a west-northwest wind, which hints at a shift to out of the northwest by Sunday. FREDERIC - GAYLORD AREA UPDATE via Sledheads of Frederic , Michigan Snowmobiling >> No new snow overnight. 25 degrees on a cloudy friday morning in downtown Frederic. Just had a group of guys ride in from down around Dayton OHio. They rode to the bridge yesterday. Picture below is of them outside here at Sledheads this morning. Another clipper supposed to come tonight. So we are set on snow and sled traffic has still been slow still. Lets see how it goes this weekend. Here is a video we made years ago. youtu.be/luoEuA9DzqQ?si=jDZlpzDlwjiup8f7 frederic-mi.com WEATHER UPDATE via Meteorologist Brad Sugden >> SNOW TIME!! WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> Lake effect snow showers slowly confine to the Lake Michigan shoreline and the Whitefish Bay area tonight, with some additional accumulation potential. Looking ahead, most areas start dry with just some light lake effect snow. A clipper passes through Friday evening / overnight, opening the door for a sharply colder and snowier weekend. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey #soo #newberryLake effect snow showers slowly confine to the Lake Michigan shoreline and the Whitefish Bay area tonight, with some additional accumulation potential. Looking ahead, most areas start dry with just some light lake effect snow. A clipper passes through Friday evening / overnight, opening the door for a sharply colder and snowier weekend. #MIwx FREDERIC - GAYLORD AREA UPDATE via Sledheads of Frederic , Michigan Snowmobiling >> Its 26 and sunny this thursday morning in downtown Frederic. Quiet outside and not alot of riders on wednesday. You couldnt ask for better conditions. I drove up to Gaylord last nite and the sleds I saw on the trail coming at me were riding nice and smooth. Once again we had about another 4 inches of lake effect overnight. We have to be pushing about 4 feet of snow total this season. Havent seen that in a long time. I have not seen a groomer yet this season and I have seen many complaints about 679 but mostly all good reports. I didnt even take any pics yesterday so thats it for today. Thanks for checking in. Pete #gaylord FREDERIC - GAYLORD AREA UPDATE via Sledheads of Frederic , Michigan Snowmobiling >> We had another few inches over night but south of Grayling got pretty hammered last night. I should be out riding right now as its pretty nice out there. The pic below is at the bridge that some guys just sent me and thats the second time I have heard of someone getting to the bridge. Thanks for checking in. Pete... #gaylord #snowphotos frederic-mi.com WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> Lake effect snow will continue to ramp up this afternoon with heaviest banding expected later tonight into Thursday morning. Several inches of snow is expected across parts of northwest lower and eastern upper Michigan, including the potential for localized amounts of 6-8” or more. Reduced visibility and hazardous travel will be possible for these areas into Thursday. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyLake effect snow will continue to ramp up this afternoon with heaviest banding expected later tonight into Thursday morning. Several inches of snow is expected across parts of northwest lower and eastern upper Michigan, including the potential for localized amounts of 6-8” or more. Reduced visibility and hazardous travel will be possible for these areas into Thursday. WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> Northwest winds kick in later today, allowing for lake effect snow to return primarily for the areas drenched in shades of blue. A couple locations will pick up 1-3" or greater within the most intense bands. We are monitoring the Kalkaska county region the closest for potential upgrades, but this should be a good base forecast to get you through the end of the day on Thursday, December 11th. This forecast starts at 5 pm EST this evening when the advisories end for the system, while the lake effect bands begin coming on shore. A couple of squalls may produce blowing snow, reduced visibilities under half a mile, and a very miniscule chance for thundersnow. Areas without a color designation are not anticipated to benefit from the lake effect snow this time around. WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> Accumulating snow continues this morning as a system works across the state. An additional 1-2” is expected across northeast lower by early afternoon, resulting in slippery roads and reduced visibility for the morning commute. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyAccumulating snow continues this morning as a system works across the state. An additional 1-2” is expected across northeast lower by early afternoon, resulting in slippery roads and reduced visibility for the morning commute. WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> Another round of snow arrives late tonight, with several inches expected south of M-32 by Wednesday evening. Snow-covered roads will lead to slippery conditions, and gusty winds may create blowing snow at times. Hazardous travel is possible— in ice and snow, take it slow! #MIwx #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyAnother round of snow arrives late tonight, with several inches expected south of M-32 by Wednesday evening. Snow-covered roads will lead to slippery conditions, and gusty winds may create blowing snow at times. Hazardous travel is possible— in ice and snow, take it slow! #MIwx <> <>
4:35 p.m.
– 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
There are concerns with dry air, however the favorable zone for dendrites (snowflakes) to form is essentially on the ground with how cold it'll be. Air temperatures on Saturday alone in the UP may just barely be in the positive single-digits. Wind gusts this weekend may jump to 30-35 mph too, so some of this lake effect snow will push further inland. Totals of 1-3" & 2-6" is a safe bet for much of west and southwest Michigan. Some places may jump above 6" where the heaviest of banding sets up. Further north, our typically higher terrain in the Gaylord region will likely see snowfall totals over 6". Into the UP, much cooler temperatures exist here, and snowfall rates may exceed 1" per hour at times. Totals closer to the one foot mark are likely. The western UP does exhibit a decent chance at totals crossing into the 12-24" category. At the current time, totals are leaning on the lower end of the 12-24" category, but those hotspots where microclimate factors come into play could easily push the upper-bounds of this category. SE Michigan... life carries on once more. Being so far away from the lake effect zones, it's expected that you all will get an inch at most. Isolated hotspots of 1-2" are possible, but don't get your hopes up unless you're close to the Ohio border.
Why 1-3" at the border? Well, we do have a clipper passing to our south Saturday, hence the added 1-3" zone that runs along the MI/IN/OH border. Stay tuned here at MSC for updates this weekend on the lake effect snow AND cold that's set to impact us through Monday. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyThe switch is being flipped into the "on" position for lake effect snow this weekend. Much of what you see won't fall today, but as our extremely cold air mass pushes in late tonight, flurries will begin to fly. Much of the higher totals begin beyond 8 pm EST tonight. Lakeshore areas should prepare for travel delays primarily after this time beginning tonight. Heavy lake effect snow will continue on Saturday thanks to a west-northwest wind, which hints at a shift to out of the northwest by Sunday.
There are concerns with dry air, however the favorable zone for dendrites (snowflakes) to form is essentially on the ground with how cold it'll be. Air temperatures on Saturday alone in the UP may just barely be in the positive single-digits. Wind gusts this weekend may jump to 30-35 mph too, so some of this lake effect snow will push further inland. Totals of 1-3" & 2-6" is a safe bet for much of west and southwest Michigan. Some places may jump above 6" where the heaviest of banding sets up. Further north, our typically higher terrain in the Gaylord region will likely see snowfall totals over 6". Into the UP, much cooler temperatures exist here, and snowfall rates may exceed 1" per hour at times. Totals closer to the one foot mark are likely. The western UP does exhibit a decent chance at totals crossing into the 12-24" category. At the current time, totals are leaning on the lower end of the 12-24" category, but those hotspots where microclimate factors come into play could easily push the upper-bounds of this category. SE Michigan... life carries on once more. Being so far away from the lake effect zones, it's expected that you all will get an inch at most. Isolated hotspots of 1-2" are possible, but don't get your hopes up unless you're close to the Ohio border.
Why 1-3" at the border? Well, we do have a clipper passing to our south Saturday, hence the added 1-3" zone that runs along the MI/IN/OH border. Stay tuned here at MSC for updates this weekend on the lake effect snow AND cold that's set to impact us through Monday.
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Thanks for checking in. Pete #gaylord #snowphotos
Posted December 11th at 7pm.
This is for Friday night, AND Saturday, AND Sunday. Don't come at me Saturday morning and tell me I'm wrong. Read, please!
Lake effect kicks in after a weak clipper system Friday night into Saturday morning for those in the U.P. and Northern Lower. Lake effect goes most of Saturday in a west northwest wind.
Sunday, that wind is more north. That'll keep the lake effect coming off Lake Superior for the U.P., but confine it to the shoreline areas of the Lower Peninsula.
IT. WILL. BE. COLD. Therefore, we'll have some intense lake effect bands. Some of the smaller lake effect bands in between the bigger ones that develop won't make it very far inland in the cold, dry air. Highs on Saturday will be in the single digits in the West U.P. and 10s every where else. Wind chill will be sub-zero all day long.
Sunday will warm a tad, but still be cold and windy.
I'll post daily maps individually over the next 24hrs. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #soo #straitsarea #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey
We are watching for more snow chances Friday into Saturday. More details either later today, or first thing tomorrow. Keep it tuned in here at MSC! #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyNorthwest winds kick in later today, allowing for lake effect snow to return primarily for the areas drenched in shades of blue. A couple locations will pick up 1-3" or greater within the most intense bands. We are monitoring the Kalkaska county region the closest for potential upgrades, but this should be a good base forecast to get you through the end of the day on Thursday, December 11th. This forecast starts at 5 pm EST this evening when the advisories end for the system, while the lake effect bands begin coming on shore. A couple of squalls may produce blowing snow, reduced visibilities under half a mile, and a very miniscule chance for thundersnow. Areas without a color designation are not anticipated to benefit from the lake effect snow this time around.
We are watching for more snow chances Friday into Saturday. More details either later today, or first thing tomorrow. Keep it tuned in here at MSC!
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Mike Hayes Roofing & Siding | 810-984-4564, call today for all your roofing and siding needs in Sanilac and St. Clair counties!
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