St. Ignace Trail Report – 01/19
Wednesday January 19th Quick trail update since we have finally gotten a little bit more snow last night and today. We only ended up with a few inches but it was enough to freshen the trails and fill in some problem holes. We do still have some problem that are signed so please follow stop signs even if they seem to be in weird places on the railroad grade. The wind has been blowing and drifting since last night and in some places it has helped give us extra snow and some places has wiped the trail almost clean. This has helped on the trail south into St Ignace and it’s getting better with every little bit we can get. Snow gets better as you go north but our whole system is fair to good. Groomers are going out tonight to get the blowing snow packed down. We also seen today that Les Cheneaux Snowmobile club was able to groom over to where we change over at the corner of M134 and Mackinac trail, check their page if you plan to head east. ♦️ICE BRIDGE NOTE♦️ The Straits snowmobile club does not do the ice bridge to Mackinac Island. We have no input on when a tree line is put out or monitoring the conditions. Work is done by locals from the island, and it’s not an official trail. Because of this, we won’t report on conditions if they do get an ice bridge this year. If one does happen, there will be postings elsewhere from locals. <> <> Straits Area Snowmobile Club on Facebook >>>> <> WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Lake effect snow ends over the north-northwest wind snow belts today. A couple more fluffy inches and some blowing snow is still expected over the north central and eastern U.P. this morning. A quick hitting system looks to bring 1 to 4 fluffy inches of snowfall tonight through Saturday morning. West to northwest winds as high as 45 mph are expected to make a return over the Keweenaw on Saturday. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaLake effect snow ends over the north-northwest wind snow belts today. A couple more fluffy inches and some blowing snow is still expected over the north central and eastern U.P. this morning. A quick hitting system looks to bring 1 to 4 fluffy inches of snowfall tonight through Saturday morning. West to northwest winds as high as 45 mph are expected to make a return over the Keweenaw on Saturday. 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 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). <> Latest Trail Reports – Quick Links <>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!
-- Trusted Partner of the Day --
Apex Restoration & Mitigation | Call 810-202-3586 today for all restoration needs across Genesee county and the thumb!
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