The plus of living in Michigan is that, at least until it freezes, the warmer Lake Michigan water keeps our temperatures up. While northern Wisconsin is seeing temps of -5F, our temps right directly across the lake are warm at 10F. The downside is that the cold dry air passes over the water it sucks up moisture out of the lake and as soon as it hits the cold land mass again it dumps it as snow (lake effect snow). All it takes is some cold west/northwest winds and we're seeing significant accumulation. FWIW it works the same in the fall once air temps get below the lake temps only then its lake effect rain showers.
