Michigan braces under a thick, gray sky this morning as light flakes drift across Gaylord and settle on cold pavement. The early hush won’t last long. Stronger lake-effect snow bands are already developing over northern Michigan, and conditions may shift quickly as the afternoon deepens and winds increase. Drivers will feel the change first — wet roads turning slick, swirling bursts cutting visibility, and plows working ahead of a strengthening system.
According to the National Weather Service, a Winter Weather Advisory begins this evening and continues through late Saturday, with 3 to 6 inches likely across Otsego County and locally higher totals west of I-75. Gusts up to 35 mph could create blowing snow and sudden whiteouts, especially along open stretches of highway or rural county roads. Plan extra travel time and expect uneven pavement conditions where earlier melting may freeze again.
Meteorologists note that lake-effect snow can intensify abruptly. To be fair, not every neighborhood will see the heaviest totals, but the strongest bands may create pockets of hazardous driving with near-zero visibility. Keep gloves, winter boots, and ice scrapers close; temperatures will slide into the teens tonight with wind chills dipping into the single digits by early Saturday.
Saturday stays active. Another round of steady lake-effect snow pushes through during the day, again producing bursts of rapid accumulation. Roads, parking lots, and sidewalks may stay slushy or icy through the afternoon. Sunday brings a brief lull with lighter snow showers but no significant warmup.
A Winter Tease midweek shows another chance for accumulating snow as temperatures hover near freezing — a setup ripe for slick travel and potential black ice.
Traveling this weekend? Tell us what conditions you’re seeing across northern Michigan.
Five-Day Outlook for Gaylord, MI
- Saturday: Snow likely, high 19°F; 1–3″ additional.
- Sunday: Chance snow showers, high 19°F.
- Monday: Snow showers possible, high 20°F.
- Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, high 33°F.
- Wednesday: Snow showers likely, high near 27°F.
