Lake Michigan’s Meteorological Influence

Lake Michigan has profoundly affected the City of Chicago in terms of size and popularity throughout the years. Many people have moved there for the pretty city lights and the lakefront view though most people have little clue how the lake affects their daily lives through the weather. Better yet, most people in our small town of New Lenox are unaware of Lake Michigan’s effects on us this far away. Though it may not seem like it sometimes, the lake stabilizes air temperatures. This means that due to the lake, summers feel colder, and winters seem mild. On the flip side, the lake produces lake-effect snow. Lake-effect snow is snow produced by a cold, dry air mass that blows along the warmer waters of a lake. This type of snow is often more common on the Michigan side of the lake though we do experience it here. As well as this, Lake Michigan also gives off what is known as an onshore breeze which is more common the closer you are to the lake. It is a gust that travels to a low-pressure system from off the lake. It’s formed from the difference in temperature between the land and the water and occurs the most during sunrise. The lake also has a strange effect on severe weather. In the city of Chicago, the lake makes the immediate area immune to tornado-producing storms, although outside of this area, the storms are stronger because of the lake. There is always more than what meets the eye with the weather, and this winter is no exception. That’s why it’s always wise to expect the unexpected when traveling to and from school this winter. Weather, in general, affects our lives more than we think!!