<p>A two degree difference is massive for the environment in given climates. This is mainly because higher latitudes have larger changes than lower latitudes. For example, a two degree global change would mean maybe 7-8 degrees in places like northern Europe and Canada, with minimal change at the equator.</p>
<p>Anyway, this isn’t a climate lesson. As far as comfort goes, a 5 degree difference isn’t much. Whether it’s between 20 and 25 or 50 and 55 or 80 and 85, it’s not much.</p>
<p>Also, I’d argue that Detroit is probably sunnier than Ann Arbor considering A2 gets more of the precipitation dumped on it from the west before it reaches Detroit. Probably not much of a difference, though.</p>
<p>UCBChem, from an environmental point of view, 5 degrees does indeed represent a significant difference. However, as far as most people are concerned, average 24 degrees in January as opposed to 29 degrees does not make much of a difference. Either way, you are going to beed to bundle up and brave the cold.</p>
<p>If I’m not mistaken, the official Detroit weather readings are taken at Detroit Metro Airport, which is about 20 minutes from Ann Arbor. As a consequence, I think the differences will be trivial. And if you look at Michigan cities from west to east, it’s pretty clear that most of the precipitation gets wrung out in the western part of the state. Muskegon gets 96 inches of snowfall; Grand Rapids 73 inches; Lansing 49, Flint 45, and Detroit (Romulus) 41. Ann Arbor’s going to be closest to the Detroit (Romulus) figure, i.e., more like Boston. </p>
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<p>FWIW, annual snowfall in Boston and Detroit (proxy for Ann Arbor) is almost identical, Boston 42.2 inches, Detroit 41.1 inches. Average temperature is 4-5 degrees warmer in Boston from November through February but similar in September-October and again in March, but Detroit slightly warmer in April and May. The biggest climate difference is that Boston gets 12 inches more annual precipitation, with almost all of the difference coming October through March. How can that be, if snowfall is more or less the same? Easy. Boston is much more prone to cold and often freezing rain in the late fall, winter, and early spring. That certainly was my experience living in both places for several years. To my mind, that’s a much more uncomfortable and unpleasant winter climate than slightly dryer and slightly cooler. Ann Arbor gets very little winter rain. The cold dampness cuts right through you in Boston. Yuck!</p>
<p>I was born and raised in Michigan. NOBODY moves to any part of Michigan for the weather. Yes, certain parts of the state are slightly cooler, warmer, or snowier than others. But, Michigan in general has nasty, dismally gray winters, and hot, humid summers. Spring is very short, and fall is beautiful in most areas. With the exception of a few areas in the upper peninsula and parts of western lower Michigan which have some hills, most of Michigan is pretty flat too.</p>
<p>Nobody was suggesting that Michigan has great weather Helen. It’s just not that different from upstate NY or the Boston area. That was the point of this thread.</p>
<p>Most of the South does have four seasons. Winter usually consists of freezing rain, and summer is interminable and oppressive heat and humidity. If that’s your idea of a good time–well, enjoy!</p>
<p>I would argue that Kentucky has four seasons. Tennessee, too. Only their winters are milder and shorter.</p>
<p>Heck, even Cincinnati has a milder and shorter winter than Ann Arbor. By March in Cincinnati the daffodils are blooming. Here (in Ann Arbor) it takes six more weeks.</p>
<p>But I was first diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder while living in Cincinnati, so go figure.</p>
<p>Cincinnati is, believe it or not, considered to be in the humid subtropical zone as described by the Koppen climate classification system. My point was that to really experience all four seasons, as most people would consider them, you’d need to live in the northern U.S. or the higher elevations of Appalachia. Furthermore, I would hardly call southern summers a “gorgeous” climate.</p>
<p>Having been born in Flint, but moving down south when I was younger, I thought I was lucky because I never had to deal with a lot of snow. But, as the years have gone on, I’ve realized that I missed the “cold” (and maybe the snow, too). But, as it pertains to school choice, the weather wouldn’t matter to me one bit! For those of you who go to UofM, help me out here: do they still offer a Statistics degree by chance? My goal would be to go back home and get my degree from there, but I’m pretty sure I don’t have the qualifications to do so…</p>
<p>Congratulations! Let’s hope it doesn’t get that bad for you. But, being nine months is a lot better than having to deal with the heat and humidity while 4-5 months (only assuming!)</p>