West Central Lower Michigan - MI05

Included Counties: Lake, Mason, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana

Watersheds:

Lake Michigan, Lower Grand ,Manistee, Muskegon, Pere Marquette-White

Geography The West Central Lower Climatic Division of Michigan is bounded by the Lake Michigan to the west, includes the cities of hart, Muskegon, Montague, and extends west to the eastern edge of Big Rapids. The terrain is gently hilly, and ranges from forests to agricultural lands. Overview Prevailing westerly winds, in combination with Lake Michigan to the west, produce a strong lake effect throughout most of the year. The lake effect gives rise to cloudiness and lake-effect snowfall during the fall and winter, and moderates the temperature over the course of the year. As a result, sudden, severe, snowstorms are not uncommon, while temperatures year-round tend to be mild. This modification of the climate is partially responsible for the diversified agriculture carried on in western Michigan. As with the rest of the Great Lakes region, the day-to-day weather is controlled by the movement of pressure systems across the nation, this area seldom experiences prolonged periods of hot, humid weather in the summer or extreme cold during the winter.