South Central Lower Michigan - MI09

Included Counties: Branch, Calhoun, Clinton, Hillsdale, Ionia, Ingham, Jackson, Shiawassee, St. Joseph

Watersheds:

Flint, Huron, Kalamazoo, Lower Grand, Maple, Raisin, Shiawassee, St. Joseph, Thornapple, Tiffin, Upper Grand

Geography The South Central Lower Michigan Climatic Division is bounded by the Indiana and Ohio borders to the south and reaches north to include Lansing, St. Johns, and Owosso. The terrain is mostly flat and, especially in the southern areas, is dominated by agriculture. Overview The climate of the South Central Lower Climatic division is predominantly continental, characterized by larger temperature ranges than in areas at the same latitude near the Great Lakes which have moderated temperatures. As a result of prevailing westerly winds, the division does experience some lake effect. This is usually minimal, however, and essentially limited to increased cloudiness during the late fall and early winter. Diminished wind speeds or winds which do not traverse large unfrozen lakes often produce clearing skies and the colder temperatures expected at continental locations. Because 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.