Do Boston winters compare to Michigan? (Worcester: home, school, live)

[Tiger Beer]

Do Boston winters compare to Michigan?

I've heard that winters in Boston are exceptionally long...plus the ocean makes the coldness just linger on longer than usual.

Anyone lived in both Michigan and Boston to do some comparisons?

[natickmomof2]

I went to grad school in Michigan (East Lansing) before I moved to MA. I think that the winters in Boston are easier. For one, it does not get quite as cold - I remember stretches in MI where it would be below zero for several days (I always had to get my car jumped b/c it was so cold!). There is also, in general, better snow removal here in the Boston area. Maybe that was just a Lansing problem, but the roads are generally cleared quite well, especially west and north of Boston. Finally, I find it easier to manage because it gets light earlier in the morning. The downside of course is that it is pitch dark at 4:30pm in December, but for me the mornings are key. I remember driving to an 8am class and it would still be very dark out in MI.

I can't really say if the winters seem longer, I think it varies year to year. Sometimes it will not really get warm until mid-June, but sometimes we get the slip-n-slide out in April.

[Arm&Hammer]

Boston weather is a lot nicer than MI because often the ocean help keep the weather cooler in summer (although I assume it be a little more humid at times) and a few degrees warmer in the winter. Plus it dont snow as much as inland

[Verseau]

I don't think that Boston winters are "exceptionally" long, especially when compared to northern New England, for example.

But Michigan is a big state. There's a huge difference in climate between, say, Detroit and Marquette. But overall the winter is less severe in Boston than in most parts of MI. Boston doesn't really get as cold as anywhere in Michigan. The snowfall is about the same as in Detroit or Lansing, but considerably less than anywhere in western or northern Michigan.

[Mr. Joshua]

Weatherbase - Records and Averages for United States of America - Travel, Vacation and Reference Information

[Bruins_Fan]

I lived in suburban Detroit (Macomb County) when I was a kid, and recall the winters being very similar to Boston. The biggest difference I remember was the sunrise/sunset as mentioned in another post. Of course, here in Boston you can get a pretty big variation in snowfall between the south shore, and say Worcester.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by natickmomof2

Finally, I find it easier to manage because it gets light earlier in the morning. The downside of course is that it is pitch dark at 4:30pm in December, but for me the mornings are key. I remember driving to an 8am class and it would still be very dark out in MI.

Originally Posted by Bruins_Fan

The biggest difference I remember was the sunrise/sunset as mentioned in another post.

That's an interesting thing to note. Personally, I've never liked going home home from work in the dark, particularly when sunset is 4:30.

That was one of the biggest differences I noted when I moved from MI to Minneapolis. Get out of work at 5pm, and already dark out. Depressing. Just felt like you didn't see any sunlight at all - as when I'm going to work, I can't adequately enjoy it, as I might when getting out of work.

So, to sum up, someone correct me this is wrong, but in Boston, you have sunset around 4:30 during the peak of winter?

[seeriously]

In Michigan, something seems to be falling from the sky almost daily, either snow or sleet or flakes. We have storms in MA but in between we have blue-sky days.

[btownboss4]

Boston is warmer, snowier (besides lake effect areas), and windier than MI

[nancy thereader]

That was one of the biggest differences I noted when I moved from MI to Minneapolis, Get out of work at 5pm, and already dark out. Depressing. Just felt like you didn't see any sunlight at all

But, aren't Michigan and Minnesota pretty much on the same lattitude?