57 Reasons To Live in West Michigan

Lake Effect Snow
West Michigan kids love this term because it often means a day off from school! Here’s a very brief, layperson’s definition of the meteorological phenomenon behind some of the winter’s heaviest storms: cold winds howl across the warm Lake Michigan waters, picking up water vapor and depositing it on land as very intense bands of snow. The record for monthly snowfall in Grand Rapids was broken in February 2007 with 33.6 inches. True West Michiganders live for this. The other upside of Lake Effect is that it moderates our summer temperatures, making the region perfect for outdoor activities in all seasons.