Sault Ste. Marie Area Trail Report – 03/17
SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 03/17 Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Maybe we’ll get lucky and receive some fresh snow this week again! ❄️ ☘️ <> <> Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association Facebook Page <> SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 3/14/26 WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> One of the most absurd snow forecasts we’ve ever made here at MSC, we’ve had to add an impromptu orange color for higher totals. SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 3/14/26 WEATHER UPDATE via Pictured Rocks Marine Weather Conditions >> Here are a couple probability maps for the snow and ice potential through the full duration of this upcoming spring storm (through 8am on Tuesday). It’s not often that we get to show 90% probabilities of getting 1.5 feet of snow, but that will be the case for much of our region. And the potential for significant icing has started to inch more into the far eastern UP, so we’ll need to keep an eye on that as well. I’ll provide some final updates tomorrow morning before the first impacts start to roll in. In the meantime, enjoy your “day off” from all this whacky spring weather! ⛄️💨🥶 #miweather #munising #seney #newberry #soo #petoskey #gaylord This content isn't available right now WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Confidence is increasing in a significant winter storm Saturday night into Monday night. Snowfall amounts between 1 to 3 feet could be near 2-day records in some areas. Strong winds and heavy snowfall rates likely result in blizzard conditions. Widespread impacts: very difficult to impossible travel, power outages, significant recovery time. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 3/13/26 WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Although some areas in the UP are experiencing a lull in the snowfall this morning, we expect the snow to fill back into the area from west to east through early afternoon. Winds shift to N/NE, resulting in reduced visibility in snow and blowing snow, especially in open areas and along Lake Superior. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #sooAlthough some areas in the UP are experiencing a lull in the snowfall this morning, we expect the snow to fill back into the area from west to east through early afternoon. Winds shift to N/NE, resulting in reduced visibility in snow and blowing snow, especially in open areas and along Lake Superior. WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> A second, more significant winter storm is coming Sunday into Monday, and it still looks like a whopper. Confidence is increasing in the following: WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Good morning, <> Latest Trail Reports – Quick Links <>Postings From Regional Pages On Facebook
Today, my buddy Dan and I hit nearly our entire trail system. We left the Soo via trail 8, took the bay from Brimley to Bay Mills, 889 up to the overlook, hit a couple of untouched 2 tracks, then 8 along the powerline to 480, 480 to 472 over to where our club turns around north of Rudyard, 472 back to 494, then 49 to see our friends at The Well Diggers Ass for some awesome food (you’ve gotta try the brisket Mac n Cheese), then 49 back to the Soo, to the high school trail, to Kewadin and back to 49 to 8.
Overall, things are in really good shape. Very, very few spots with water showing, only one big one on 472 that is shallow and easy to ride right over, and the one at Seymour and 449 has a crack showing flowing water. 480 was getting choppy, and 49 wasn’t all that bad for not having been groomed for over a week. There are big rollers by the airport in the city, and Jay and I are hopping in the groomer shortly to smooth them out, along with the other city trails minus Seymour hill and the Kewadin trail as we want to let that freeze up a little more and they are flat anyway.
I wanted to get eyes on any trouble spots before the big snow so we can identify any hazards that may lie beneath.
Please stay safe as this storm hits tomorrow morning. Many businesses are already announcing that they will not be open so you need to plan for gas and food. We may have widespread power outages. If you don’t have to travel, please don’t. We’ll update as much as we can, but please know that the safety of our volunteers and our families come first, and we will get to the trails when when can.
Thanks all!
Pics and descriptions for you from today,❄️❄️❄️ #soo #soo0314d #snowphotos
Key Notes:
•Snow begins to work into Michigan late tonight, but becomes more widespread during the early morning hours of Sunday. This snow continues through Tuesday morning for the UP, and becomes a snow/freezing rain/sleet mix for northern lower Michigan beginning Sunday afternoon/evening.
•Winds will gust between 40-60mph statewide both on Sunday and Monday.
•This will be a full on blizzard for much of the Upper Peninsula
•Expect scattered power outages across the state
•Travel will be near impossible for the UP and northern lower
Snow totals will be between one and four FEET when all is said and done on Tuesday in the UP. Further south, a mix is expected which will keep accumulations lower, and also will provide a sharp cutoff of accumulations. The difference between a foot of snow and 2” may be the width of one county.
Further south, this system will end as snow for lower Michigan on Monday & Tuesday, which is why we have a wide area within a trace to an inch, and western lower in a 1-3” zone with wording of higher totals possible. We may need to adjust totals here as new data comes clearer for Tuesday.
Stay tuned for the icing portion of this forecast. Northern lower Michigan will see significant icing which is not shown or communicated in this forecast graphic or write up. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyOne of the most absurd snow forecasts we’ve ever made here at MSC, we’ve had to add an impromptu orange color for higher totals.
Key Notes:
•Snow begins to work into Michigan late tonight, but becomes more widespread during the early morning hours of Sunday. This snow continues through Tuesday morning for the UP, and becomes a snow/freezing rain/sleet mix for northern lower Michigan beginning Sunday afternoon/evening.
•Winds will gust between 40-60mph statewide both on Sunday and Monday.
•This will be a full on blizzard for much of the Upper Peninsula
•Expect scattered power outages across the state
•Travel will be near impossible for the UP and northern lower
Snow totals will be between one and four FEET when all is said and done on Tuesday in the UP. Further south, a mix is expected which will keep accumulations lower, and also will provide a sharp cutoff of accumulations. The difference between a foot of snow and 2” may be the width of one county.
Further south, this system will end as snow for lower Michigan on Monday & Tuesday, which is why we have a wide area within a trace to an inch, and western lower in a 1-3” zone with wording of higher totals possible. We may need to adjust totals here as new data comes clearer for Tuesday.
Stay tuned for the icing portion of this forecast. Northern lower Michigan will see significant icing which is not shown or communicated in this forecast graphic or write up. 
Good morning all!!
Groomer Warren did one last run for this season for us last night before he heads back to southern MI.
Here’s what he had to say-
“480 Spile Dam to Brimley and electric lines along 8 were done last night. 4/5 inches of new snow and the trail is in great shape. Saw a lot of riders! Last one of the year for me. Adios😁😁”
Thank you Warren!! Safe travels!! #soo #soo0314c #snowphotos
Good evening all!! Sorry for the late report- I got to play in the snow today! Shout out to Grand Marais Sno-Trails Assoc. for the great trails today!!
Back here in the Soo, looks like we picked up 4-5” today. Hard to say as there’s lots of blowing and drifting.
The Raco and Kinross crews were out this morning and this evening. Lane sent us these beautiful shots of 480 through the Spile Dam, one of my favorite sections. The city trails and 49 from the Soo to Kinross have not been done, as we gave them some time to freeze back up. Jay and I will hit the city tomorrow night, and 49 should be done Sunday AM.
Trail 8 from the Soo to Brimley will be done by tomorrow morning, and 8 from Brimley to Raco was done tonight. 889 will also be done tonight.
It’s going to get wild here on Sunday after a day of sunshine tomorrow. We’ll keep you posted on spring snowmaggedon😅
If we do indeed get 2-3’ of snow, please understand that we all have to dig ourselves out before we can hit the trails, but we will do our best!
Thanks all, ride safe! ❄️❄️❄️ #soo #soo0313b #snowphotos
•More than a foot of snow for the UP and/or far northern lower Michigan
•Significant icing that may impact the power grid
•Wind gusts that could top 45mph
•Blizzard conditions
We plan to release our first call snow/ice/wind maps for this event later this afternoon. We encourage you to begin preparations as this event could be our biggest winter storm we’ve seen in quite some time. Stay tuned for further details. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyA second, more significant winter storm is coming Sunday into Monday, and it still looks like a whopper. Confidence is increasing in the following:
•More than a foot of snow for the UP and/or far northern lower Michigan
•Significant icing that may impact the power grid
•Wind gusts that could top 45mph
•Blizzard conditions
We plan to release our first call snow/ice/wind maps for this event later this afternoon. We encourage you to begin preparations as this event could be our biggest winter storm we’ve seen in quite some time. Stay tuned for further details.
A quick hitting, strong clipper continues to bring widespread moderate to heavy snow and high winds to the area this morning. After a brief lull in snow around daybreak, an increase in northerly winds and lake effect snow will return hazardous conditions to the north winds snowbelts this early afternoon.
Our attention then turns to a major winter storm set to impact the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region this weekend into early next week. Confidence is continuing to grow regarding significant snowfall accumulations (potentially record breaking) and blizzard conditions that may result in widespread impacts.
Please view this morning's informational briefing at the link below for additional details on both today's and this weekend's storm systems.
www.weather.gov/media/mqt/DssPacket.pdf #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo