February 20, 2026 – 11:55 am update: – FRIDAY NOON – Wild weather is in the forecast heading into the weekend with snow, mixed precipitation and rain in the forecast. Trails are in solid shape in the U.P. Trails are likely to be best in the Western U.P. and the Keweenaw east to Marquette where they are expecting more snow in the snow/rain mix. The Eastern U.P. should also hold up for the weekend with a rain/snow mix in the forecast.
Northern Lower Michigan suffered more during the warm up and there is rain and a snow/rain mix in the forecast. Trails are likely to be poor to fair in exposed areas and fair to good deeper in the woods.
Check all the local reports for the latest updates…
LAKE GOGEBIC AREA UPDATE via Gogebic Area Grooming >> Bergland Area Groomer's report for Friday evening 2-20-26.. Why can't we just wave a wand and they magically appear like this daily! We've had snow off and on the past few day's and anything lost during the warmup we most likely gained back plus a couple. Trail's are in good condition but with heavy weekend traffic you'll find your best riding early in the day. Temp's remain about perfect with highs right around freezing and lows in the lower 20's. Get out and enjoy! Gogebic Area Grooming ❄️❄️❄️ #lakegogebic#westernup#snowphotos... See MoreSee Less
NEWBERRY AREA UPDATE via Pine Stump >> Saturday 2-21 We have alot of snow still. It will be setting up hard after the little bit of rain and drizzle we had yesterday The temps look to cool down this weekend and next week Winter is far from over. Come on up and have some fun! Parking out back for anyone that needs it! #newberry #snowphotos... See MoreSee Less
BIG BAY AREA UPDATE via Big Bay 550 Snowmobile Club >> Big Bay to Andersons corner is groomed and in good condition Big Bay to moose country trails is groomed and in good condition Big Bay to Marquette is groomed and in good condition Ride safe and ride right! #bigbay #marquette... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> Ongoing snow continues today, focusing on far northern lower Michigan this afternoon into tonight, where a general 2-5” of snow is possible by Sun. AM. Looking ahead, we transition to snow showers Sunday. Drier but colder Monday. Next system builds Tue afternoon. #miweather #gaylord#cadillac#benzie#traversecity#petoskeyOngoing snow continues today, focusing on far northern lower Michigan this afternoon into tonight, where a general 2-5” of snow is possible by Sun. AM. Looking ahead, we transition to snow showers Sunday. Drier but colder Monday. Next system builds Tue afternoon. #MIwx ... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Moderate lake enhanced snow will continue to impact mainly the Keweenaw and parts of the central U.P. today, where Winter Weather Advisories remain in place through 7 PM this evening. Find the latest forecast information for your location at www.weather.gov/marquette. #miweather #keweenaw#westernup#marquette#munising #seney #newberry #sooModerate lake enhanced snow will continue to impact mainly the Keweenaw and parts of the central U.P. today, where Winter Weather Advisories remain in place through 7 PM this evening. Find the latest forecast information for your location at www.weather.gov/marquette. ... See MoreSee Less
CEDARVILLE AREA UPDATE via Les Cheneaux Snowmobile Club & Grooming Report >> The Les Cheneaux Snowmobile Club is groomed and ready for the weekend! Big thanks to Todd and Garry for doing a repair on #17 to keep things moving tonight. Radar Run prep is complete. Autore Excavating moved a mountain worth of snow to create parking and a pit area. Things get started at 8am with the track opening at 9am. Come ride Mackinac County, stop in and make a few passes at the Radar Run presented by Thunder Products Clutching #cedarvilleThe Les Cheneaux Snowmobile Club is groomed and ready for the weekend! Big thanks to Todd and Garry for doing a repair on #17 to keep things moving tonight. Radar Run prep is complete. Autore Excavating moved a mountain worth of snow to create parking and a pit area. Things get started at 8am with the track opening at 9am. Come ride Mackinac County, stop in and make a few passes at the Radar Run presented by Thunder Products Clutching ... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> Okay, remember how we mentioned sneaky snow this weekend? Well, it started yesterday, and will continue today at times, but fill in greater as lake effect by Sunday. Here on February 21st, 2026, most of the snow and freezing rain will continue across the western UP and northwestern LP. We will see a shift to more snow into central and southern Michigan by late this evening. Then on Sunday, snow should be on-and-off across the entire state, with an uptick in typical lake effect zones such as the spine of the western UP, and the entire Lake Michigan shoreline. Lake effect bands are very finicky, and are subject to microclimate wind shifts. It's very possible that a few locations in our 1-3" zone see 4-5" by the end of the day on Sunday. We will be monitoring radar for a dominant lake effect band that stretches across the peninsula. The increase of wind on Sunday morning may also reduce visibility on all roadways to under half a mile, so travel only as fast as conditions allow. Bottom line, plan for some more of that "annoyance" snow. Not enough to be called a big storm, but enough to cover all side roads, and many of our main roads. Accumulation will be higher during the overnight hours when surface temperatures are NOT at or above 32°F for most of the state. This also means our chances at freezing drizzle are higher during the daylight hours. #miweather #keweenaw#westernup#marquette#munising #seney #newberry #soo #gaylord#cadillac#benzie#traversecity#petoskeyOkay, remember how we mentioned sneaky snow this weekend? Well, it started yesterday, and will continue today at times, but fill in greater as lake effect by Sunday.
Here on February 21st, 2026, most of the snow and freezing rain will continue across the western UP and northwestern LP. We will see a shift to more snow into central and southern Michigan by late this evening. Then on Sunday, snow should be on-and-off across the entire state, with an uptick in typical lake effect zones such as the spine of the western UP, and the entire Lake Michigan shoreline. Lake effect bands are very finicky, and are subject to microclimate wind shifts. It's very possible that a few locations in our 1-3" zone see 4-5" by the end of the day on Sunday. We will be monitoring radar for a dominant lake effect band that stretches across the peninsula. The increase of wind on Sunday morning may also reduce visibility on all roadways to under half a mile, so travel only as fast as conditions allow.
Bottom line, plan for some more of that "annoyance" snow. Not enough to be called a big storm, but enough to cover all side roads, and many of our main roads. Accumulation will be higher during the overnight hours when surface temperatures are NOT at or above 32°F for most of the state. This also means our chances at freezing drizzle are higher during the daylight hours.
We fully expect to see your emoji reactions to this snowfall still-to-fall through the morning commute on Monday. Are you ready for winter to be over, or do you need this snow like there's no tomorrow?
-- Trusted Partner of the Day -- Apex Restoration & Mitigation | Call 810-202-3586 today for all restoration needs across Genesee county and the thumb! ... See MoreSee Less
PARADISE AREA UPDATE via Paradise Area Night Riders www.paradiseareanightriders.org >> 2/21/26 31 degrees this morning and cloudy. Sorry for no trail report yesterday but I got real busy and the time just slipped by. These warmer nights are not helping our cause much but it looks like this will change soon. We have been dodging the rain unlike some of the surrounding areas have got so we are still ok. All operators that ran yesterday are saying the same thing. All trails are still in good shape but the snow is soft and mushy. Our swampy areas are holding up for now. The base is a little thin in areas that the loggers had plowed down earlier this season though, but all in all we are in good shape. All trails will get run today/tonight. Come on U.P. while the gettin is still good!!!!! LET `ER SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Groomer Chris #paradise #newberry ... See MoreSee Less