Snowfall Sweeps the Great Lakes Region This Thanksgiving

Sat Dec 06 2025 22:34:00 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Heavy lake effect snow creates challenging conditions for travelers in the Great Lakes, particularly in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, with reports of up to 33 inches in some areas.

Residents across the Great Lakes region are facing significant snowfall as a weather system unleashes lake effect snow, particularly impacting Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Blizzard warnings are in effect, with some areas reporting over 33 inches of snow, making travel hazardous.

LANSING, Mich. (Flux Daily) — This Thanksgiving, residents in the Great Lakes region are facing a wintery scene as heavy snowfall blankets the area due to a potent weather system centered over the lakes. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is bearing the brunt of this lake effect snow, which has led to blizzard warnings and treacherous travel conditions.

The snowfall, which began mid-week, persisted into Thursday with strong winds spinning fresh bands of snow from the north and northwest. Specifically, Alger County, east of Marquette, saw severe conditions due to an active blizzard warning set to expire at 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving night.

Forecasts from the National Weather Service project the heaviest snowfalls to occur west of the town of Munising, where accumulations may reach up to 13 inches (33 cm) before tapering off later in the day. Lily Chapman, a meteorologist based in Marquette, reported a staggering 15 inches (38 cm) measured at her office early Thursday and additional local reports of 18 to 28 inches (46 to 71 cm) near Bessemer.

“It varies quite a bit based on elevation and the positioning of the snow bands,” said Chapman, emphasizing the erratic nature of lake effect snow. This meteorological phenomenon occurs when cold air from Canada moves over the warmer waters of the Great Lakes, leading to intense localized snowfall.

Driving Hazardous as Snowfall Continues

Driving conditions have become increasingly dangerous due to sudden whiteouts and low visibility as the snow continues to fall. Travelers faced significant hurdles across Michigan's Upper Peninsula, with reported gusts reaching up to 45 mph (72 kph) leading to large snow drifts and driving hazards on the road.

As of Thursday morning, multiple power outages were reported throughout the region, particularly near Houghton, where utility providers noted over 1,000 outages due to high winds and heavy snow. Consumers Energy also reported similar outages in areas near Lake Michigan.

Forecasts predict that the lake effect snow will gradually ease over the next few days, with a lighter weather system expected to deliver additional inches of snow over the weekend. Regions such as Buffalo, New York, are also experiencing similar conditions with 2 to 3 inches reported as lake effect snow warnings remain in place through early Saturday.

As the Great Lakes region grapples with this Thanksgiving snowfall, residents are urged to take caution and stay informed on the evolving weather conditions.