[kimba01]

LOL! I was just going to say that too! I am definitely enjoying the glimpses of it today!

[mewith3]

Originally Posted by ironlady

Hey all, my family and I moved to the Holland area in June of last year. Before our move, I'd seen MI once, the month before our move. I grew up in Texas, spent 10 years in L.A., and 1 year in Denver before we made the move here. So my question is, where is the sun? When can I hope to see her? I REALLY need some Vitamin D!

Michigan was once rated the 2nd cloudiest state!
But Welcome to Michigan

[YAZ]

Oh, for those glorious sunny summer days in Michigan. 82 degrees with a slight westerly breeze.

I was always sad to see September arrive, but it also meant that ice fishing was just around the corner.

[danielj72]

The sun??? Ive heard about it, maybe caught a glimps of it once. Can you describe it?? maybe Ill remember. All kidding aside Michigan is NOT a sunny state. The lakes create clouds, enhance storms and winter weather. We are not as bad as the pacific northwest, but we are a relatively cloudy area. Places like Dallas and LA are bathed in sunshine year round, the total opposite of Michigan. Our nicest weather occures in late spring, summer and fall. The lakes and woods are beautiful, but the tradeoff is giving up alot of sunshine.

[idw2s]

Originally Posted by JimmyInGreatLakes

Yes, you've come from places with extreme sunshine. Actually, I think we've had quite a few sunny days in February. More than average?

That's what I'm saying. We moved here from the Portland area. I've already seen more sun since mid-January than I'd normally see from Jan-June in Portland. But I'm the native Angeleno that moved from Texas to Seattle and thought I'd stumbled on to heaven.

Actually, you can have my sun. Anything more than partly cloudy makes the eyes hurt when there's still snow on the ground. I'll wait for spring.

For the OP, I'm seeing crowds of deer, birds flying north, and there's a little bird in our drive trying to pick who knows what out of the earth. First bird I've seen since we moved here. I think spring is on it's way. Hold tight, make a summery drink, and dream of sun!

[idw2s]

Originally Posted by magellan

Yes, I do think February was sunnier than average. March s.u.c.k.s. so far.

I find that people who like A LOT of sun are sort of dense (not you ironlady) from my experience. People who actually like cloudy days and rain tend to be more intellectual, introspective, serious, quirky, creative. The people I know here who travel down South 3 or 4 times a winter and are constantly talking about margaritas on the beach are, frankly, kinda dumb (even though they somehow are smart enough to have the money to do so).

I jest though. If you're really really into the sun, then you will be miserable in West Michigan. No if, ands or buts about it. For four months a year though, I'd say we have some of the best weather in the country.

I think Michigan has 2-4 months of perfect winter (followed by slushy yuck, and on that subject, another thing I hate about melting snow is all the entombed deer suddenly popping into view, EW!), I'm willing to bet 2 months of perfect spring (preceded by 1 month of slushy/melty/muddy) and at least a month and a half of perfect summer on each end, and frankly, I thought fall was just spectacular from beginning to end...

So I'd have to say what, Michigan has at least 9-10 months of perfect weather, but I'm weird like that. We have no seasons in SoCal except sunny or wet.

[idw2s]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

You actually have two winters left to go. You have March winter then a little bit of spring, then you have April winter. Hopefully we will nto be having May winter this year. But you MUST embrace winter if you are going to live here. Otherwise you spend half of your life, just getting through it. That is no way to live.

What you talkin' 'bout, Willis?

April WINTER? May WINTER??? No, this a La Nina year. Spring is springing. The birds and deer seem to think so, and they can't be wrong....

Wait, I'm counting on animals that fly into glass and dash in front of cars to be reliable weathermen...

Scratch that.

April winter? It goes away and comes back? I have no problem with long winters, but ideally, when winter is gone, it stays gone.

[idw2s]

Originally Posted by danielj72

The sun??? Ive heard about it, maybe caught a glimps of it once. Can you describe it?? maybe Ill remember. All kidding aside Michigan is NOT a sunny state. The lakes create clouds, enhance storms and winter weather. We are not as bad as the pacific northwest, but we are a relatively cloudy area. Places like Dallas and LA are bathed in sunshine year round, the total opposite of Michigan. Our nicest weather occures in late spring, summer and fall. The lakes and woods are beautiful, but the tradeoff is giving up alot of sunshine.

When we were frustrated with trying to get a mortgage here, those clouds kept us coming back. As we traveled the northern part of the mitten, we would see these cloud fronts come in from each lake, collide, mingle, and at sunset, make these swirled, multi-layered paintings of orange, lavender, pink, white, blue.... Stunning. The fall sunsets here were breathtaking, and always beautiful sun breaks here and there.... I don't need the sun all day to enjoy it when it's here.

I could do without the mud, I wish there were a winter switch and all the ugly part of winter could just evaporate, but... I'll take the yuck, because the beautiful has it beat by a mile.

[mackinac81]

I grew up in Michigan my whole life and I HATE cloudy weather. I always have. the only time cloudiness is remotely cool is when the clouds start to roll in in October. They're gray, billowy and bring that first chilly fall air. Then in November--February it gets old, and the sky looks like a dirty cotton sheet. The clouds have no features. It's just gray.

Still, the summers are worth it. And I happen to like snow. If only the sun would shine more often! Then Michigan weather would be perfect year round for me.

[northstar22]

Welcome to West Michigan! I'm from there, and yes, it is cloudy a LOT. Definitely in March and April and usually through the winter. Even summers tend to be cloudy and rainy. One of the first things I noticed about Minnesota is how sunny it is -- it's possible to have a whole week without clouds here. In Michigan, the best you can hope for is two sunny days followed by one cloudy day, and that's only in the summer. A lot of times in the fall, it will be sunny and then lake-effect clouds will roll in around 1:00 p.m, like clockwork.

I hate Michigan weather.