Michigan — The season’s first major lake-effect winter storm barrels across northern Michigan this morning, transforming quiet streets into wind-driven walls of snow. Across Gaylord, blowing flakes swirl through headlights, and gusts near 45 mph whip drifts across highways, cutting visibility to near zero at times.
The National Weather Service in Gaylord has issued a Winter Storm Warning through Friday evening, with snowfall totals between 6 and 12 inches expected — and locally higher amounts near Roscommon and western Crawford Counties. Travelers heading north for Thanksgiving should brace for hazardous road conditions, especially along I-75 and M-32, where heavy bursts of snow and drifting are already creating slick, icy surfaces.
Winds will intensify through the afternoon, combining with snow to create near-whiteout conditions. The strong northwest flow off Lake Michigan will keep snow bands focused across northwest Lower and eastern Upper Michigan into Thursday. Thanksgiving Day itself looks snowy and blustery, with highs near 31°F and another 3–5 inches of accumulation possible.
By Friday, the heaviest snow begins to taper, though scattered lake-effect bands could linger through the evening. Temperatures stay locked in the 20s, and wind chills will drop into the single digits by nightfall.
Looking ahead, early signs point to another Arctic front diving south around December 1, setting up an extended period of below-normal temperatures and renewed snow chances into early next week.
Residents and travelers alike should stay alert, keep emergency kits in their vehicles, and avoid unnecessary travel during the height of the storm. Northern Michigan’s Thanksgiving weekend has arrived with true winter force.
Five-Day Outlook (Wed–Sun)
• Today: Snow, windy, 42°F → 26°F.
• Thursday: Heavy snow, 31°F.
• Friday: Snow showers, 27°F.
• Saturday: Flurries, 28°F.
• Sunday: Mostly cloudy, 28°F.
