Lake-Effect Snowstorm Disrupts Thanksgiving in the Great Lakes Region
A significant lake-effect snowstorm has impacted the Great Lakes region over the Thanksgiving holiday, beginning on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, and continuing through the weekend. The storm has led to hazardous travel conditions, widespread power outages, and substantial snowfall accumulations, particularly in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and parts of northern Wisconsin.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued blizzard warnings for several counties in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, including Keweenaw, Ontonagon, northern Houghton, Baraga, and Gogebic. These warnings were in effect from 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 25, to 7 a.m. Thursday, November 27, with forecasts predicting snow totals between 17 and 30 inches and wind gusts up to 55 mph. Marquette County was also under a blizzard warning from 7 a.m. Wednesday to 10 a.m. Thursday, expecting 8 to 22 inches of snow, with the highest amounts in western portions of the county. Read more.
Lake-effect snow occurs when cold air moves over the warmer waters of the Great Lakes, creating moisture-rich clouds that release heavy, localized snowfall. This phenomenon led to hazardous travel conditions, including whiteouts, low visibility, and strong winds up to 45 mph, causing large snow drifts and power outages. Over 1,000 outages were reported in areas like Houghton and Holland, Michigan. Read more.
The storm severely affected travel, with reports of whiteouts, low visibility, and strong winds up to 45 mph causing large snow drifts and power outages. Over 1,000 outages were reported in areas like Houghton and Holland, Michigan. Read more.
As the lake-effect snow tapers off from west to east on Friday, November 28, a new storm system is forecasted to impact the Great Plains and Midwest, including cities like Chicago and Buffalo, with several more inches of snow expected into the weekend. Read more.
Lake-effect snowstorms are common in the Great Lakes region during the late fall and winter months. For instance, in November 2022, a similar event resulted in over 6 feet of snow in western New York. Read more. However, the current storm's timing during the Thanksgiving holiday has amplified its impact on travel and daily life.
The storm's timing during the Thanksgiving holiday disrupted travel plans for many residents and visitors in the affected areas. The hazardous conditions led to road closures, flight cancellations, and delays, impacting both personal and commercial transportation. Additionally, power outages affected thousands, highlighting the vulnerability of infrastructure to severe weather events.
As the lake-effect snow tapers off from west to east on Friday, November 28, a new storm system is forecasted to impact the Great Plains and Midwest, including cities like Chicago and Buffalo, with several more inches of snow expected into the weekend. Residents are advised to stay informed and exercise caution during this period of severe weather.
For a visual overview of the storm's impact, you may find the following video informative:
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