Northern Michigan could get its first big dose of winter weather over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Starting Thursday night, Antrim, Charlevoix, Kalkaska, Crawford and Otsego counties could see a foot or more of lake-effect snow.
These counties have been nicknamed "the big five" at the National Weather Service office in Gaylord, said meteorologist Sean Christensen, a forecaster there.
“When we get that typical west-northwest flow, those are typically the areas that we see the most snow,” Christensen said.
Parts of the eastern Upper Peninsula along Lake Superior could also get lake effect snow this weekend.
Snowfall is also expected across the rest of the region by the time the weekend’s over — but not nearly at the same level of accumulation predicted for “the big five.”
Lake effect snow happens when cold air passes over the Great Lakes and its (relatively) warmer waters. Where the snow falls depends on a lot of factors, from wind direction to physical geography of the land.
Christensen said that’s why snowfall totals could be inconsistent across the region this weekend.
Winter weather enthusiasts and many northern Michigan businesses are hoping for a snowier season than last year’s meager winter. Snowfall was so inconsistent in late 2023 and early 2024 that many businesses — such as ski areas — applied for relief from the federal government.
