What to wear in Michigan?
I’m from California, and I’ll be attending college in Michigan this coming fall.
I have no clue what the weather tends to be like in Michigan, other than that it actually snows in the winter (something totally foreign to me). I also don’t know how to dress for whatever weather there will be in Michigan on a regular basis. I don’t know if it tends to rain, or if it’s actually fairly sunny and warm most of the time, or if it’ll just be sunny but cold (50 degrees being cold) most of the time.
Also, regarding what to wear: I know what to wear for a daytrip skiing in Lake Tahoe here in CA, but not what to wear on a regular schoolday in MI where the ground is covered in snow and ice– snow pants would seem a little extreme for that.
So: what is fall weather like in lower Michigan? Winter? Spring? And how should I dress for each season?
Lots of details would be nice.
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Tagged with: attending college • clue • fall weather • lake tahoe • michigan winter • rain • skiing • snow and ice • snow pants • winter spring
Filed under: Skiing Tips
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I lived in Michigan for ten years, so I can tell you- it gets COLD. Winter seems to last forever, so don’t plan on having shorts and tank tops on on a regular basis.
Snow pants are really only for outdoor activities, and I don’t recall ever seeing a single person wearing them in college. Boots that cover your pant bottoms (at least while you are walking on campus) are really helpful to avoid the extremely uncomfortable wetness that is unavoidable when trudging through the snow. I found myself often having to wear a thick hooded sweatshirt as well as a heavy winter coat with a scarf (often wrapped around my face) when walking through the blowing snow. Be careful with wet hair too, it makes being in the cold A LOT more uncomfortable, and will often freeze almost instantly. Be sure to have gloves or mittens in your car or bag (assuming you like feeling your fingers). Soft sweaters and hoodies are both warm and very comfortable when sitting in class. You should probably wear something lighter like a t-shirt underneath though, as some classrooms can be really warm once you get inside.
The ice can be TERRIBLE, and falling on your ass in front of people is really embarrassing, so make sure you have good tread on your shoes.
Summers can be really really nice, and hot at times. You will quickly find, however, that despite the warmth during the day the nights in Michigan can cool off considerably. I would recommend keeping something warm nearby to throw on at night. The lakes in Michigan are beautiful places to spend summer days. Don’t leave your bathing suit behind, because when the short summer does finally roll around, you will need it! Good luck!