As Changeable As Weather

The weather in Ann Arbor is totally unpredictable and sometimes extreme; as Jeff Foxworthy once said, "If you've ever worn shorts and a parka on the same day -- you might be in Michigan." It could vary unexpectedly and in a very short span of time. Some days might start sunny, heavy rain for the afternoon (may be with thunderstorm warning) and might get too cold in the evening.

Ann Arbor averages 45-50 inches of snow per winter season. We had our snowiest winter on record last year with 90.3 inches, but some years can have much less snow, on the order of 25-30 inches. Either way, it will be an experience if you’ve never seen one before. But winter can be fun and I can assure you no picture can do the beauty of a fresh snowfall justice. Now, as a college student, there is NO better time than Fall in Ann Arbor! The trees turning colors, apple cider, U of M football, the crisp weather- there is no time like it (Ann Arbor is a huge college town, as you may already know). Spring may take a while to get here (it usually snows a few times in April), but again, seeing everything come alive from winter is neat. Lastly, summer will be VERY comfortable as it doesn’t get too hot (at least not as my hometown in India). There will be a handful of hot summer days in the 90s, and also a handful of cool summer days in the 60s-70s, but the huge majority of summer is sunny with highs in the 80s.

To realistically prepare them for an Ann Arbor winter- What locals consider a "mild" or "easy" winter would be one where the temperature only gets into the single digits a few times, with many winter days thawing in the 30s and 40s (all temperatures in Fahrenheit), and snowfall totals only around 20-25" by the time spring comes (of course this being the total, not all at once). A "severe" winter would see several dozen weeks’ worth of lows below zero, not seeing 30 degrees for over a month, and seeing upwards of 60-70"+ of snow. There are some nice places around to shop for winters.

There are lot of options, like Briarwood Mall, Burlington Coat Factory etc. are available around for winter’s shopping. Having proper clothes and shoes are very important especially during snowfall. Negligence could be very dangerous and could lead to very serious health issues like frostbite etc. Snow shovels and other equipments are also available in community centers and with resident advisors.

Don’t be scared and don’t hesitate to ask for help from senior students, faculty or staff members and everyone here would be happy to help you. We live like a family and support and love each other like one. Have a happy stay in Ann Arbor!

Prepared by Deepak Singh

Summer Orientation Peer Adviser from India

Ph.D. student in Atmospheric Oceanic and Space Sciences