Total guess, but: Lake effect probably prevents huge temperature swings further east (the great lakes are GIGANTIC sinks of energy), and there are mountains to the west, I believe. The problem is the flat area pictured.
Also, the shape of the polar vortex wind mass isn’t uniform, so it likely dips further south in that region than others (in part due to the barriers described above)
Michigan can stay 30 degrees warmer in these polar snaps, just from the lakes warming the air, also creating lake effect snow. Not so much the upper penninsula but the lower.
Just the other day, 36 below in wi, only 6 below in mi.
Total guess, but: Lake effect probably prevents huge temperature swings further east (the great lakes are GIGANTIC sinks of energy), and there are mountains to the west, I believe. The problem is the flat area pictured.
Also, the shape of the polar vortex wind mass isn’t uniform, so it likely dips further south in that region than others (in part due to the barriers described above)
Michigan can stay 30 degrees warmer in these polar snaps, just from the lakes warming the air, also creating lake effect snow. Not so much the upper penninsula but the lower.
Just the other day, 36 below in wi, only 6 below in mi.