Petoskey Area Trail Report – 12/30
December 30, 2020
Groomer Tom and his wife Brenda are out panning and checking out the trails. We sure could use more snow to get some base going, but it looks bleak the next couple weeks. Keep doing those snow dances and hoping for snow.
Keep in mind that groomers have the right of way and try their best to look out for you. Be sure to throw them a ‘Thumbs Up’ to show your appreciation for a job well done!
Did you know…
The cost to groom 1 (one) mile of trail is $5.13? If you divide that $5.13 into the $48 trail permit cost, you will see that after you have ridden just a few short miles the $48 spent on the permit has been used up. This is the cheapest part of your snowmobiling budget yet goes a long ways to support the Michigan Grant Sponsors that help groom YOUR trails.
We need you
If your reading this and ride our trails, we need your help,we are in need of members. We are one of Michigan’s oldest clubs, forming in 1969, over the years membership has gone up and down, right now we have less than thirty members on the rolls and probably only twelve actually do all the work. Even if you can`t help all the time with brushing in the fall or grooming thru the winter, some help, when ever available would be more than welcome. If you can`t help physically your membership dues helps us do the things the DNR doesn`t help with. Again, if you like smooth trails, we need you, the trails don`t groom themselves.
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Postings From Regional Pages On Facebook
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> A messy winter system will bring impacts the region at varying times to the region tonight and much of Friday. Accumulating snow will be most impactful in eastern upper, while a messy mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain / drizzle impacts much of northern lower. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey
WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> On top of our second call ice map, here is our second call snowfall map for December 26th, 2025. It's a messy system with multiple precipitation types, so be sure to click on our page to go see our ice forecast.... #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyOn top of our second call ice map, here is our second call snowfall map for December 26th, 2025. It's a messy system with multiple precipitation types, so be sure to click on our page to go see our ice forecast.
Discussion
The north side of the low will have much colder air, and the deformation zone for this event will be set up across the eastern UP and Lake Superior region. Totals greater than 1" of snow (some melting) will be confined north of M-55 to the Mackinac Bridge, while totals closer to the 3"+ mark are confined from St. Ignace up to Paradise and Sault Ste. Marie. Additionally, the Keweenaw Peninsula also may see the highest snowfall totals too.
You may have noticed that we added a new color for this event only. Because there is a gradual change from rain to snow... freezing rain, and even sleet is expected with this event. Sleet is like the shared sibling between snow and freezing rain. Sleet is snow that melted to rain really high up immediately after falling from the clouds, but spent enough time in the cold sector after melting to reform into tiny pellets. Freezing rain, however, forms when there isn't enough time for the rain to reform back into those tiny ice pellets due to that warm sector close to the ground, but because the ground itself IS a cold sector, it freezes on contact. Yes, sleet is slippery, but due to its properties, it's not quite as impactful. Still, because of the sleet's size, it accumulates in tenths of an inch similar to snow instead of hundredths like freezing rain. As a result, much of the white trace-1" corridor will likely fall as <1" of both snow and sleet. Again, not a huge amount, but worth mentioning. Timing for this snowfall will be similar to that of the ice. Anytime from 6 am EST Friday through the end of the day Friday is the expected duration.
Winter weather advisories are now in effect for the eastern UP regarding this snowfall. We will have traffic impact maps and timing maps coming later this afternoon after our Christmas morning activities. See you all back here soon!
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The key does not match the colors on the map
what is orange?
PETOSKEY AREA UPDATE via Petoskey Snowmobile and ORV Club >> Trail report 12-25-2025, Merry Christmas! #petoskey
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> Wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain later Thursday night through Friday. The highest snow accumulations will be across the eastern UP, with 2 to 5 inches of snow possible. The potential exists for up to 0.10” of ice south of M-72. Stay tuned for the latest updates! #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey
Anybody up in the Gaylord are or mancelona that knows how the trails are. I wanna ride Friday and or Saturday
Are Gaylord trails gonna be any good for Friday and or Saturday
HARBOR SPRINGS AREA UPDATE via Harbor Springs Snowmobile Club >> Unfortunately the weather has been staying on the warmer side & we haven’t received any new snow. The trails are all ice and getting thin. As of right now there is snow in the forecast everyday next week, keep your fingers crossed 🤞🏼 ❄️
We hope everyone has a safe & Merry Christmas! 🎄 #harborsprings #petoskey
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> The next shot for widespread precipitation over the state arrives late Thursday into Friday. Primarily snow is expected over the U.P. with higher chances for a wintry mix/freezing rain over lower Michigan. Post-holiday travel may be impacted across parts of the state. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyThe next shot for widespread precipitation over the state arrives late Thursday into Friday. Primarily snow is expected over the U.P. with higher chances for a wintry mix/freezing rain over lower Michigan. Post-holiday travel may be impacted across parts of the state.
WEATHER UPDATE via Midwest Weather >> I'm going up north to the U.P of Michigan on Friday to chase a potentially significant lake effect snow event from late Saturday night through Tuesday. Snowfall accumulations could be 1-2', if not higher, as high-res model guidance comes in when we get closer.
Another lake-effect snow event is increasingly likely behind an arctic front next Wednesday night through Friday, which we will need to keep an eye on. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyI'm going up north to the U.P of Michigan on Friday to chase a potentially significant lake effect snow event from late Saturday night through Tuesday. Snowfall accumulations could be 1-2', if not higher, as high-res model guidance comes in when we get closer.
Another lake-effect snow event is increasingly likely behind an arctic front next Wednesday night through Friday, which we will need to keep an eye on.
We will be in GM for the week! Bring it!
Your wasting your time ... gonna be a small.snow event
WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> In the spirit of Christmas, here's today's forecast for December 23rd, 2025 that really doesn't feel much like the holiday season. Let's discuss!
Temperatures are slow-going to rise, then suddenly as we reach the afternoon hours, temperatures snap into the mid-40's for much of the state. Many locations close to the MI/OH border may surpass 50°F. Further north, mid-30's are likely. Sunshine will be noticeable out there today, as partly cloudy skies are the main icon. Winds will increase beyond noon as well, gusting between 20-30 mph for most, with some isolated spots in northeast Michigan, and along Lake Superior gusting 30-40 mph. Winds will be out of the west, and more details on the wind will be posted next. A light round of mixed precipitation is possible overnight into Wednesday for the Sault Ste. Marie region.
Keep on following for continued statewide forecasts throughout the week, right here at Michigan Storm Chasers, your most-trusted source for statewide forecasts and weather coverage. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyIn the spirit of Christmas, here's today's forecast for December 23rd, 2025 that really doesn't feel much like the holiday season. Let's discuss!
Temperatures are slow-going to rise, then suddenly as we reach the afternoon hours, temperatures snap into the mid-40's for much of the state. Many locations close to the MI/OH border may surpass 50°F. Further north, mid-30's are likely. Sunshine will be noticeable out there today, as partly cloudy skies are the main icon. Winds will increase beyond noon as well, gusting between 20-30 mph for most, with some isolated spots in northeast Michigan, and along Lake Superior gusting 30-40 mph. Winds will be out of the west, and more details on the wind will be posted next. A light round of mixed precipitation is possible overnight into Wednesday for the Sault Ste. Marie region.
Keep on following for continued statewide forecasts throughout the week, right here at Michigan Storm Chasers, your most-trusted source for statewide forecasts and weather coverage.
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WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> Expecting light / minimal precipitation through Christmas Day. A larger system builds late Thursday night (Christmas Day) into Friday, bringing a wintry mix to the region, lingering into the weekend. Travel impacts are possible during this period of time. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> Light snow today brings minor accumulations, with lingering snow Tuesday mainly across eastern Upper. Partly cloudy skies Christmas Eve, then a light rain/snow mix is expected late Christmas Day. Pockets of isolated light freezing drizzle are possible today/ tonight– On ice and snow, take it slow! #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyLight snow today brings minor accumulations, with lingering snow Tuesday mainly across eastern Upper. Partly cloudy skies Christmas Eve, then a light rain/snow mix is expected late Christmas Day. Pockets of isolated light freezing drizzle are possible today/ tonight– On ice and snow, take it slow! #MIwx
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