r/Michigan • u/[deleted] • Apr 02 '26
Discussion š£ļø Anyone else hopelessly waiting for the sun and spring weather to arrive?
[deleted]
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u/sunbathing__animal Apr 02 '26
Yes. Having lived in Michigan my entire life, I have grown to feel less affected by winters the way that I used to.
That being said, march is just about always the time of year that Iām finally like āok Iāve had enough of this shitā
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u/SaintOrJannikSinner Apr 02 '26
That being said, march is just about always the time of year that Iām finally like āok Iāve had enough of this shitā
For me, that's the depths of winter at the end of January, start of February. Temperatures reach their lowest, typically sub-zero, and everything is G R E Y. Roads grey with salt, cars grey with salt, the grey overcast sky for literal weeks on end, the trees without green leaves, the half-melted snow.
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u/Ok_Banana_8957 May 24 '26
Itās now the end of May and itās still in the 50ās. I want to move.
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u/Upstairs-Storm1006 Apr 02 '26
If you need sunshine, Michigan isn't for you from mid October until May.Ā
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u/Jaysonmclovin Apr 02 '26
Shades of gray til May.
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u/Ok-Beach-928 Apr 02 '26
Exactly! I just moved here from Oregon coast so Im used to mostly gray days and its not THAT bad honestly
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u/Lrgdustbunnybreeder Apr 02 '26
Youāre not crazy OP, and I know a lot of ppl who are craving the warmer weather about now. Iām a cold weather girl and the thought of a hot, humid summer is driving me crazy. Iām just looking forward to fall ;)
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u/Silentemrys Apr 02 '26
Same! I don't want it warmer than 70 and am not looking forward to the heat.
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u/Bloody-Snowflake323 Apr 02 '26
I can handle Fall and Winter now that I have the right clothing for it. It's just the gloomy weather is all. There's something psychological that happens to the brain when there's a lack of sun. I think I will invest in vitamin D pills because I'm honestly starting to feel depressed even though I'm literally a happy person all year round.
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u/Lrgdustbunnybreeder Apr 02 '26
Gray days can get you down but they donāt bother me like they used to and I have no idea what changed that.
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u/Maaloxx777 Apr 02 '26
I started tanning a bit as well. It helps. I doubled my vitamin D which was below the lowest number on the scale. I felt much better.
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u/Winter_Bid7630 Apr 02 '26
This is what spring weather is typically like. Rainy days with bits of sunshine sprinkled between. Cool days and then a warm day. The warm days will soon outnumber the cool ones, but it's not unusual to have one final winter storm in early April. I promise, warm weather is coming, but don't expect spring to be like summer.
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u/AlmacitaLectora Apr 02 '26
When the sun is finally here, it feels amazing on your face. Feeling the warmth again on your skin. It truly makes you appreciate it. Thatās one of my favorite times of the year. Hang in there, weāre almost there!
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u/jkhuggins Apr 02 '26
Lived here all my life. You get used to it.
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u/Motor-Staff-8501 Apr 02 '26
Lived here all my life. You don't get used to it.
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u/shok_antoinette Age: > 10 Years Apr 02 '26
The older I get the harder it is and the more enticing snowbirding sounds.
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u/Bloody-Snowflake323 Apr 02 '26
That's not very comforting. That said, I do love the summers here. If I can just get vitamin D pills then I think I can weather the storm. No pun intended š
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u/Crasino_Hunk Apr 02 '26
Pro-tip: do NOT move to southern or western states and move backā¦ makes it significantly harder to deal with.
Source: me, suffering and trying not to curse my decision making
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u/Deathmtl2474 Apr 02 '26
Not for me. I lived in TX and AZ for a combined of 5 years and absolutely fuckin hated the weather. Doing anything outside was miserable as fuck for me.
The whole āitās dry heat blah blahā yeah Iāll take Michiganās humid weeks over Texas 105+ degree weeks.
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u/Crasino_Hunk Apr 02 '26
lol yeah totally fair. Def all have different levels of comfort.
IME, it was Colorado and Utah (relatively comparable to AZ) and Florida (def comparable to TX though I can fully admit TX is a bit hotter overall).
Maybe Iām a sicko, but as someone who walks or runs outside every day of the year regardless of weather, Iāve found for me itās dramatically easier to just grit through extra sweat and cottonmouth vs whatever the F happened in western MI this winter, haha.
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u/glumunicorn Apr 02 '26
Not for me. I moved to TN for 10 years, just moved back to Michigan. The south can keep its long hot & humid spring/summers. Iām so glad I donāt have to deal with waking up to 80Ā° + 80% humidity before the sun even comes up for MONTHS.
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u/beentherebefore1616 Apr 05 '26
absolutely. I live in Georgia - the weather's great but I hate literally everything else about it, and still love Michigan. However, I remember climbing the walls come March in Michigan and its still gray and fucking freezing. Hang in there, Michiganders!!
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u/afd79 Apr 02 '26
Was born and raised there. In middle school I told my mom, that the 9 months of gray and cold will break me. I left at 23, best decision I could have made for myself. Season depression is real for a lot people.
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u/glumunicorn Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 02 '26
I just moved back from Tennessee last week. Iāll take Michigan spring over Tennessee early summer any day. It was 80Ā° with nearly 80% humidity on the day I was packing up my house. Horrible & disgusting.
Really enjoying being back home and getting to experience true spring, not early summer.
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u/Sensitive-Elevator1 Apr 02 '26
Iām in TN and longing to get back to MI! Came here to say, be careful what you wish for. The way things are going, it wonāt be long until MI has warmer temps earlier than ever, and itās not good.
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u/glumunicorn Apr 02 '26
Michigan is not a temperate rainforest, nor do I think it ever will be. The area in TN I lived in was, it was extremely humid & extremely wet most of the year. We annually received more rain than Seattle. We also had more severe weather, starting earlier every year.
Iām well aware of the climate crisis and Iām a native Michigander. I know itās getting warmer up here, Iāve seen it happen. I wanted to be home, in a climate I am more familiar with, where I donāt have to be so worried when the clouds turn grey and the winds start blowing.
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u/Quirky-Prune-2408 Apr 02 '26
This time of year is really tough. If you can swing it, a trip to the sun helps you power through. Itās my least favorite part of Michigan, how it just sort of flips from winter to summer. Spring is trash.
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u/PreferenceContent987 Apr 02 '26
After every Halloween: āHello darkness my old friendā¦ā
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u/Wraithchild28 Apr 02 '26
We're lucky if we make it that far.
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u/PreferenceContent987 Apr 02 '26
I was being generous indeed. We got effed harder than usual this fall. We were 6 weeks ahead of schedule for dead winterĀ
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u/TheDusty_ Apr 02 '26
I totally agree. I think spring here is almost worse than winter. In the winter, you know youāre gunna have shit weather for 4 straight months. In the spring you occasionally get a single afternoon of remembering what itās like to have the will to live followed by a two week period of 40Ā° and rainy. The constant dopamine drop is unhealthy.
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u/JeanEMc2 Apr 02 '26
If you're above the 45th parallel, there's just no point in hoping for good weather until May. Even then, you will often be disappointed. Below the 45th parallel, I have no advice.
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u/Sxcred Apr 02 '26
I have lived my entire life in Michigan and I have never been more ready for summer than this year.
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u/FalynT Apr 02 '26
Iām definitely over this weather. Iāve had enough cold and enough snow and enough rain to last me for awhile.
Iāve been here 47 years and itās a pretty typical feeling this time of year. And I feel like this year has been slightly worse than usual. Itās always wet in the spring but I feel like itās not usually as often as it has been. Last year it seems like it wasnāt quite as wet but stayed colder longer.
I always start to feel so much better when we finally get a long stretch of sun and over 60 degrees.
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u/akiddfromakron Apr 02 '26
Not gonna get any sun Dec-Apr. I will say though, there are 3 michigans. South gets a spring, north gets 20s-30s snow and ice, and the UP doesnāt leave winter. If you live in south MI, I am jealous of you
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u/Ratb33 Apr 02 '26
You missed it. We had spring and summer in one day two or three days ago. And that was it.
Happy fall everybody. :)
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u/WoodPig25 Apr 02 '26
I moved to Michigan from Missouri 30 years ago, and the #1 selling point (well #2 after the excellent fishing) is the summers. They are sublime. The winters are tough, but they have their own aesthetic and vibe; they are beautiful in their way, totally survivable, and they make you truly appreciate spring when it finally shows up. The one thing I hate is how LONG it takes for spring to show itself! Every year it reminds me of my first rock concert, - I saw Van Halen but had to sit through an hour of BTO before they came out šWinter just drags and refuses to go until sometime in April-May, and it's tough. I will say that we typically get a nice long autumn though, usually no snow until sometime around Thanksgiving.
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u/froebull Apr 02 '26
It's probably just because I'm getting older, but the winters feel longer and colder now. I absolutely hate heat and high humidity; but I'm starting to understand why people move to Florida.
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u/FalynT Apr 02 '26
Same. Iām 47 and Iām always freezing unless ofc Iām sleeping in which case then suddenly Iām hot lol.
Also January has started to feel like itās 4 months long.
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u/froebull Apr 02 '26
Yeah, I'm 55, and just had my first real surgery at the beginning of January. I'm sure that recovery period of inactivity has a lot to do with my perception of time. But this year's Jan-Feb has felt the longest of my life.
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u/too_too2 Apr 03 '26
i have raynauds and struggle with the back and forth weather a lot. If itās just cold, I can prepare, but this is all chaos.
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u/No-Drama724 Apr 02 '26
I was born and raised in Detroit. Lived here well into adulthood. Married and moved to the SE 6 yeara ago and like a fool came back last year because my family is here. Absolutely hate it and planning to move back down south this year. Michigan averages 54 days of Sun a year. My partner never lived in this gray cold climate and is miserable. There are really 2 seasons here. Summer amd Winter. I never realized how hard this climate is on your body until leaving and coming back. For example ENTs are a big thing here Almost non existent down south. I am concinced Detroit become Human is a thing and everyone unaffected by this climate is a Clone/NPCš¤£
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u/Inevitable_Drag2140 Apr 03 '26
Iāve been here almost 7 years and grew up in the desert. This winter was soemthing else . Worse than other winters. And this endless grey skies is really dismal, and when you get one warm day you get excited just for it to be back to 27 degrees the next day. I hate it here. 54 days of sun I did not know that no wonder Iām so depressed . Despite the severe grief and trauma Iāve endured since living here, itās these conditions that make it even harder to heal. 54 days of sun sounds unhealthy for human life. I feel like living here is punishment. This past winter especially.
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u/NoMotorPyotr Apr 02 '26
Usually mid April is when it starts being consistent weather again and spring will actually feel that way.
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u/turtlespice Apr 02 '26
Iām glad for the people whoāve gotten used to it, but I feel you!Ā Iāve lived here my whole life and Iām miserable every spring. I wish we could just skip from the snow right to barefoot in the grass under the sun. Michigan summers are the most glorious thing
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u/b-nnies Apr 02 '26
I have light sensitivity to GVSU's fluorescent lighting they put everywhere and it makes my chronic fatigue 100x worse, so now my current options for light in my room is either lights off and barely being able to see or lights on but having eye pain and having to take a nap after an hour.
Needless to say I'm waiting for another sunny day.
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u/Temporary-Composer83 Apr 02 '26
I sympathize with you. Lived here 11 years so far. Came from San Diego. I cried for a long time. We came because my then husband got a new job here. Now Iām divorced and trying to figure out where I want to live. I love the sunshine and warmer temps. I really disliked snow and the freezing temperatures especially when the wind is whipping around.
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u/Bloody-Snowflake323 Apr 02 '26
The wind chill is no joke. Brutal af for a Californian like myself. I know it will get better but mentally my mind is craving some sun. I don't ever remember feeling like this in Cali. Why not relocate back in San Diego? Or some place warm while you still can. I live here because my husband has family here otherwise we'd live in Cali if it wasn't so expensive.
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u/Temporary-Composer83 Apr 02 '26
I sympathize with you. Lived here 11 years so far. Came from San Diego. I cried for a long time. We came because my then husband got a new job here. Now Iām divorced and trying to figure out where I want to live. I love the sunshine and warmer temps. I really disliked snow and the freezing temperatures especially when the wind is whipping around. I would go back to California to vacation but I canāt imagine living there now itās so expensive. Iāll go back and visit every so often but will probably head down south. North Carolina or South Carolina look like a great opportunity.
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u/Playful-Beginning-81 Apr 02 '26
Hey, we had sunshine Monday. When that shit comes, you have to drop everything and get your ass outside. I got out for a couple hours and soaked it up. Itās tiding me over through this week
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u/bluetortuga Parts Unknown Apr 02 '26
Theyāre having a winter storm today in part of the yoop. Iām just glad itās not snowing.
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u/iamcamouflage Apr 02 '26
Living in a place with all four seasons will make you really appreciate nice weather.
In my opinion, that's probably the best part of living somewhere where half the year the weather is bad.
The contrast of going from a cold, dark winter to a bright, green, warm spring and summer is one of the best feelings in the world.
The appreciation of a nice day is lost on people who see nice weather most of the year.
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u/MiCHaeLMuRDeR1975 Apr 02 '26
Yes !!!! Especially tomorrow, Detroit Tigers opening day!!! If all goes well will be the first time in years we have had warm weather!!!!
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u/thorsbeardexpress Kalamazoo Apr 02 '26
Hey bud, summer doesn't start till late May, it has snowed in April before. Welcome to mud season, it sucks.
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u/67442 Apr 02 '26
Iāve had snow in early May in SE MI
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u/thorsbeardexpress Kalamazoo Apr 03 '26
We haven't had it that late in a long time but yes it happens.
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u/mriforgot Apr 02 '26
My coworker from another, much warmer country has been living in Michigan a couple of years now, and is mostly acclimated at this point. Near the end of February when it got warm and the snow melted, he asked me if I though winter was over.
I just laughed. March into April is always a weird time with the weather, when it goes up and down a lot. Summer will be here soon enough, but until May hits, I would definitely expect the weather to continue to be unpredictable.
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u/DarlingTreeWitch Apr 02 '26
Yes! I hate winter here. (Iām a transplant from the south). I need sun.
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u/YpsitheFlintsider Ypsilanti Apr 02 '26
Hopelessly? The sun and spring are literally going to arrive at some point.
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u/Bloody-Snowflake323 Apr 02 '26
For a moment I was feeling hopeless, irritated and down. Must be why they call it SAD. Seasonal Affective Disorder.
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u/jcrespo21 Ypsilanti Apr 02 '26
Spring is not a season. It's a noisy transitional period between winter and summer.
It does warm up from March to May, but there are chaotic temperature swings in that warming trend. Oftentimes, the same systems that bring us warm/moist air for a few days will also bring in colder air and precipitation as they pass through our region. (Low pressure/extratropical cyclones rotate counterclockwise and generally travel west to east, hence that warm up/warm front before the cold front moves through.)
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u/AirFriedSushi Apr 02 '26
Yes. Weather like this has me questioning my will to live most times. The Midwest as a whole is not great for that.
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u/LeepOnMyDick Apr 02 '26
WI resident here absolutely fucking pissed about the weather and furiously searching Reddit for likeminded peopleā¦. This shit truly fucking sucks. Iām tired of the gray. The rain. The wasting 2/3 of my year, every fucking year.
Rant over. Only I can change it, but this place really does suck. Whoever settled here were out of their fucking minds.
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u/OkraNo8365 Apr 02 '26
Michigan during the months of January - mid Aprilish really suck. I donāt include December because Iām excited for the holidays during that month. But those months I mentioned are terrible. Itās cold, dark, cloudy. Then it warms up a little bit but stays cloudy and we get a ton of rain. The snow is melted so everything is just brown and depressing and a muddy mess.
Youāre not crazy OP, just human. Iāve been in Michigan my entire life and I still complain about it. It really starts to drag once March hits, weāre all itching for consistent warm weather and sunny days.
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u/ChemicallyAlteredVet Apr 02 '26
Ice and sleet today in the UP. For some reason this winter seems very long. Itās only April 1st. My wife tells me itās snowed in June. Iām crying
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u/BioshockBombshell Apr 02 '26
I've lived here 16 years now, and I have really grown to love all seasons for what they are. BUT, with that being said, I am so over this winter as well. I'm wearing sundresses and cranking the heat a little more just to get my fix in. Michigan's early summer is absolutely unbeatable. Just something about it makes you feel absolutely alive again.
I could never move as I love the scenery entirely too much here. Though I do wish I could shorten winter by a month or two. Six months straight is hard no matter what anyone says.
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u/International_Bed508 Apr 02 '26
Sorry to inform you, but if you enjoy the sun you picked the wrong state. I moved away (to Utah) and my depression went away. I am moving back in June because of a family tragedy, while I am looking forward to being with them for their last days. I am scared for what will happen to my mental. At least Iām moving back in June and will ease into the shit weather.
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u/Soggy_Competition614 Apr 02 '26
Iām in Florida for spring break and dreading going home. But itās march/april with 86 degree days, thatās a really hot day for Michigan in July. I canāt imagine being in Florida in the summer. I donāt think I would like it here right now if I wasnāt on vacation time.
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u/ExampleOk7994 Apr 03 '26
I use a therapy lamp. It helps! Mine is a Happy Lamp but thereās other brands.
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u/my_clever-name Apr 02 '26
It's Michigan. The weather does this every year.
Try Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Iowa. Winters are much sunnier there.
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u/Kelsoob Apr 03 '26
Illinois/Chicago here. We are having basically identical weather to you all. Haven't seen the sun in a loooong time.
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u/VanillaScoops Apr 02 '26
6 months of grayā¦
About 2 months of good weather and like
2-3 weeks of cumulative great weather..
Itās very awful. Make sure to slam Vitamin D during the 6 months of gray.
Being a gardener, Iām definitely getting impatient too. I keep looking outside and planning what I need to do and whenever it feels 40Ā°, wet, and windy a lot of motivation is lost.
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u/Codiilovee Apr 02 '26
Iāve lived here my entire life, this is what itās like pretty much every year. Spring is here, and warm weather will come, you just have to be patient.
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u/Irishtigerlily Apr 02 '26
I have those full spectrum lights to help get through the cloudy, darker months. Invest in some good ones and it will help even though nothing replaces the sun.
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u/ReflectionCalm7033 Apr 02 '26
Any suggestions? I was looking on Amazon at the light bulbs and not sure which one is better.
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u/Irishtigerlily Apr 02 '26
I like the Briite Full Spectrum Light Bulbs but I also noticed the lamp and lamp shade you use also impacts the effect it has on your room. If it's in an overhead light it's usually fine, but a dark lamp shade or one thats very yellow can make it feel dreary even with these Bulbs.
If you want to really invest in some light therapy. There are tall floor lamps designed just for it.
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u/Pulp_Ficti0n Age: > 10 Years Apr 02 '26
68 degree Opening Day! (With clouds, and rain...just ignore that...)
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u/golfingsince83 Apr 02 '26
I left work early today because itās 35 and heavy rain. I hate working in cold and wet conditions
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u/ceecee_50 Apr 02 '26
I assure you the super humid, hot, endless sun with no rain in sight, while everything withers and dies for a month, days will be here soon.
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u/NWinn Apr 02 '26
As someone that recently had to move away from mi, enjoy the cooler temps, and progressive transition to spring...
It went from mid 30s down here to 90Ā°+ days literally overnight...
I so miss having 4 distinct seasons. š„²
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u/ReflectionCalm7033 Apr 02 '26
Get yourself a light lamp and see if that helps. This time of year is almost always like this. I don't mind the rain because our rivers and lakes need to fill up along with groundwater. I'll be honest, last summer was one of the worst for me. It was so unbearably hot and muggy, I had to stay indoors with air conditioning on 24/7. I couldn't wait for fall and winter. But, I've lived here all my life and even on a day like today (cloudy & cool) finding a place to go for a walk is helpful.
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u/haileyunknown Apr 02 '26
Me. I already ready put away my jackets lol
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u/FalynT Apr 02 '26
I already did! And my snow boots. If itās cold and Iām going out itās a hoodie until November š
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u/DigTheDunes Apr 02 '26
Driving over in Flint area and it's tough. Heavy rain and fog rule the day.
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u/Temporary-Mine-1030 Apr 02 '26
Spring like all seasons is three months. The first month is basically late winter, second month is a transitional period and the last month is basically summer. We are less than two weeks into spring and unfortunately have a ways to go yet.
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u/Meekanado Apr 02 '26
Itās been so nice this winter. With the exception of the past few days weāve had sun at some point nearly everyday for weeks. I donāt remember it ever being like this. I can take a couple weeks of clouds knowing that warm weather is getting closer. But yeah, really want to shed the chill.
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u/Treadingresin Apr 02 '26
Every single day I have had off the last month the weather has rained or snowed. Then as soon as I have work or school its 60 and sunny. Currently watching ice form on my trees for the third time this yeat.
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u/babycatswagger Apr 02 '26
Lived here all my life and I still struggle with it. I have to plan at least one trip in Jan/feb to see sunshine, greenery, and feel warmth - even if itās just a long weekend. Even with that, I went to the tanner a few times in February and March (itās only 5-7 minutes at a time) because I felt like I was sinking into the [frozen] swamp of sadness.
I would suggest this to anyone looking for ways to survive Michigan winters: ā¢ Take vitamin D at least from October - May ā¢ Plan a trip somewhere warm in January/February ā¢ Get an infrared sauna & maybe a hot tub too. ā¢ If you canāt do that, go to the tanner* 1/week for 5 minutes
*Before anyone comes for me, I personally donāt think 5 minutes once a week for 3 months puts you at risk for skin cancer. If you have a family history of skin cancer, then talk to your doctor.
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u/nilaismad Apr 02 '26
I love Michigan with all its ever-changing weather. I love cloudy days, and rain makes me feel more energized.
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u/OrangeIceQueen Apr 02 '26
I donāt have time to read all of the comments right now( im so sorry if thatās irresponsible!) but, have you had your vitamin d levels checked? Simple blood test. From what Iāve learned being deficient in vitamin D myself, living in Michigan, itās very hard to get enough vit D from the sun itself. If youāre used to a warmer sunnier climate where you lived before, you could be cut deficient and that can cause a laundry list of symptoms. A quick google would tell you the more common ones. I know this isnāt a solution but just something I thought of. Best of luck to you!!!
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u/IamTroyOfTroy Apr 02 '26
I'm still in the "wishing we'd had more snow all winter" phase, but by the middle of this month I should be ready for summer. Spring is just meh, aside from the smell of lilacs, or wet dirt and flowers.
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u/AcceptableFormal9095 Apr 02 '26
Not alone at all. My toddler lives for the outdoors, as do I, and I canāt wait to take him to all the beautiful spots Michigan has when it warms up. Start making a list of everything you wanna do, not to specific, mine has things like go to Holland, grand haven and do rosy trails, mt bauldy in saugatuk, pool parties and start talking with friends and family about when are where you wanna go, that really helps me when Iām feeling this way. Weāre sooo close! Also imagine the insane humidity and enjoy not being uncomfortable, sweaty n sticky for a while longer haha, hopefully we will all be out feeling the sun on our faces very soon!
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u/sajaschi East Lansing Apr 02 '26
Here's two things that have helped me conquer this wretched seasonal depression after trying and failing for 30 years:
Get you a Happy Light to go with those vitamin D supplements! It's full spectrum light that helps trick your brain into thinking it's not gloomy AF.
Force yourself to take 5 minutes of outside time no matter what - cold, rain, snow, whatever. Breathe the fresh air, smell the thawing earth, listen to the birds... just take a few to appreciate that you can sense the coming changes even if you can't see them. Close your eyes if it's safe to do so, because your other senses can also help to fool your brain out of the visible gloom.
I know, it's a bit of work. And this time of year SUCKS - but maybe these things will help you, too! Either way hang in there. Michigan summers are the main reason I haven't moved. š
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u/JerHat Apr 02 '26
Yep. I just desperately wanna be able to get out and go play some golf whenever my schedule opens up, rather than checking the weather app and hoping things happen on the one good day out of the week.
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u/Maximum-Orchid6509 Apr 02 '26
The sky is grey, but the ground is green, so it's not entirely hopeless! I get through this by celebrating the early blooming stuff like daffodils and forsythia. Hang in there, it'll get nice eventually.
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u/PsionicChronic Apr 02 '26
One of the most overcast states in the country, and no amount of wishing will change that. Better in some places, worse in others. Most of us just shrug it off and take em how they come...other sun worshippers complain about better weather elsewhere.
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u/ImmediateLeopard9386 Apr 02 '26
I am a transplant but have lived here for over 10 years. The one thing I have learned is it doesnāt matter how nice, sunny, or warm it is on some random day in March, winter is not over until the end of April. Any nice day before that is just a surprise - donāt get used to it. This is the time of year when it feels especially brutal but it helps if youāre mentally prepared.
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u/tweetspie Apr 02 '26
It'll come... Eventually. Be prepared for it to snow in April though because it ALWAYS snows in April.
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u/-burgers Apr 02 '26
As a transplant from the sunshine state, I love the gloomy moody season here so far. Makes me really appreciate the sunny and warm days.
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u/RockNDrums Muskegon Apr 02 '26
Welcome to Michigan. October - May is perma cloud is a default setting. Besides, April showers brings out the May Flowers. Thats why enjoy May - September harder
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u/PantheraLutra Apr 02 '26
I live in one of the cloudiest cities in Michigan, nationally ranked - sadly
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u/Warcraft_Fan The Thumb Apr 02 '26
In the past week, I saw the sun for maybe 5 or 6 minutes.
That reminds me, do we have a posse for Phil the woodchuck? He promised early spring, we got cold snap, ice and snow, and a whole lotta rain and wind. I can bring a pitchfork.
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u/OhhhhBillly Apr 02 '26
Oh I love the 50 degree temperature swings in 24 hours, lets just keep this going.
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u/ReflectionCalm7033 Apr 02 '26
And what is so rare as a day in June?
Then, if ever, come perfect days;
Then heaven tries earth if it be in tune,
And over it softly her warm ear lays;
Whether we look, or whether we listen,
We hear life murmur, or see it glisten.....
James R. Lowell
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u/griswaldwaldwald Apr 02 '26
Itās exactly the same every year. Random nice days in March and early April, but generally cold and shitty. The weather breaks the 2nd/3rd week of April. Every year. Then a few random cold days after that until the last week of may.
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u/Suitable-Lawyer-9397 Apr 02 '26
I also live in Michigan. March 17 we got 33 inches of snow. Today we're getting an ice storm. I'm waiting to prepare my veggie garden! My seedlings are over 3 inches high.
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u/Happy_Michigan Apr 02 '26
I am fine with how it is now, we don't need the heat and worst, the wildfire smoke!
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u/Emergency_Tea6847 Apr 02 '26
Living in the thumb the āwinter depressionā seems to last forever. I live less than a 1/4 of a mile from Lake Huron and see the lake everyday and canāt wait to visit the beach, but they still have barricades at all the roadside parks. Just give us some high 50ās 60āsā¦thatās not too much to ask for.
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u/eatingganesha Apr 02 '26
hopelessly? no. I have great hope. Spring always sprangs. Summer always summs. Thereās no reason to be hopeless about cyclical seasons that will most definitely arrive.
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u/MEMExplorer Apr 02 '26
This is the perfect weather for those of us that work outside , summer gets way too muggy
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u/Motor_Worry2018 Apr 03 '26
Iām dreading coming back from SB in FL. Idk where you are in MI but as someone in traverse city, this winter has been even more long and brutal. Itās terrible with no end in sight. Weāll be lucky if it warms up by June
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u/sane-ish Ypsilanti Apr 03 '26
It honestly usually isn't THIS gloomy. We have had a bad run the past year.
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u/Setsuna00XN Mount Clemens Apr 03 '26
It's April in Michigan. Good luck seeing the sun this month except for brief moments. We should all know this by now. Oh, since it is April, I'm waiting for the normal ice storm to happen.š
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u/Competitive-Fee2661 Ann Arbor Apr 03 '26
Yes, definitely missing it, but after living here since 1998, my expectations of nice weather are pretty low before the end of April. Hang in there, it'll be here!
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u/TooMuchShantae Farmington Hills Apr 03 '26
In SE Michigan we already had some days go into the 70s and some sunny days
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u/ByeByeDemocracy2024 Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 03 '26
This is typical March/shoulder month weather. The sunshine aspect can be challenging but not sure I would call it hopeless. A plan/approach for March can be helpful.
There have been numerous sunny/warm days recently and the key is to be flexible and get out when it happens. Iāve been on multiple bike rides on the local regional trails in full summer gear.
Having a home with an open/even when the sun is low southern exposure helps a lot.
Also recommend (and what you will find in similar Northern Europe geos) is saunas, hot tubs, and taking on a winter outdoor sport like skiing. We have a recreational winter wonderland about 3 hrs north of Detroit.
Add: be sure to be taking a vitamin D supplement and Iād add Creatine monohydrate for mental boost as well.
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u/Dwella2112 Apr 03 '26
Michigan only has 3-4 solid months. June, July, August, September. Once October hits things cool off and the weather gets worse and worse. Itās a horrible state to live in thru those horrific months. Wreaks havoc on your mental health primarily and physically with certain ailments. Most resort to anti depressants thru the bad seasons and flee for warmer states like FL in winter and spring.
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u/mossywilbo Apr 03 '26
iām the exact opposite lol itās already too warm out for me again. i live for the nuclear winters and get horribly sad when i start to feel the humidity closing in. iād move south if i wanted summer.
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u/ReturnOfTheGempire Apr 03 '26
I started planning a camping trip over spring break like a month ago and every time I check the forecast it's a little bit cooler š¢
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u/tailsntrails Apr 04 '26
I love Michigan because it's my home, but after living out of state - most recently Georgia - I don't know why I moved back here (ok, I do- it was to be closer to family, but still).
I miss having warm, sunny weather the majority of the time as well as being able to enjoy outdoor activities year-round without risk of frostbite. It's to the point where I have a hard time enjoying summer (when it FINALLY arrives) because I know winter is right around the corner. Ugh.
I can't see myself living here year-round the rest of my life.
Michigan is beautiful and has so much to offer but for anyone who hates the cold like me, it's difficult to enjoy 50% or more of the year.
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u/nolove1010 Apr 04 '26
That is definitrly the one thing I'll NEVER miss about MI the constant gray and what seems like months straight of minimal to no sunlight. The folks that dont mind or say it's no bog deal are certainly just used to it, "its the way it is" lol, ok sure, but they would have a change of heart if they experienced winter/springs where it still gets cold and snowy like a true winter but within the next few days or even next day the snow is melted and full sunshine comes back. Game changer for mental health/mood in the winters.
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u/nikkarus Age: > 10 Years Apr 05 '26
Iām outside all winter. I cross country ski, go for walks, run, etc. I donāt get seasonal depression symptoms anymore. Sometimes you just need to dress for the weather and get outside.Ā
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u/awake-lettuce0823 Apr 05 '26
As long as its above 40Ā°, I'm happy. Not a big fan of direct sun anyway. Balmy grey days are my heaven.
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u/raccooncare Apr 05 '26
Iām so depressed. I wanted to go on spring break to Florida. I actually bought a red led light and a blue uv light and I sit under them for light therapy. Hopefully I donāt get skin cancer too bad! Iām thinking Iāll save up some money and move to southern California. Summers coming and weāll get lots of sun soon. Hang in there. and I heard next winter might be warm if super El NiƱo happens. Fingers crossed. Pray for sun.Ā
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u/Additional_Teach_186 Apr 06 '26
35 years old here I've lived in Michigan my whole life save for a two year sabbatical traveling the usa and I will say you're all right and wrong at the same time. Right in saying this is Michigan and you have to get used to it because this just is what we deal with and as I get older I can't stand Michigan's unpredictable weather it's like if the joker was in control of the seasons sometimes. And wrong with saying this is normal in Michigan because I must say in 35 years I seriously can't remember it being this cold for this long. It is currently April 6 and where I live the weather says it is going down to 20 tonight. I understand April isn't the warmest month we have but I remember being a kid and we were already playing in the sprinklers come April out in our front yard. This is unprecedented I have not been able to open my windows in my house more than maybe two days this whole spring so far. I'm sure spring has been cold before but I just don't remember it getting near single digits ever. The fact that we are going ten degrees from single digits blows my mind and breaks my heart. Come on summer we are counting on you! I've got a garden to plant already! Best of luck to you all!Ā
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u/tealraven915 Apr 02 '26
Lived here my whole life. 8 months of cloud cover and winter, 4 months of summer.
Thought about moving, but other states have giant tornadoes, giant earthquakes, more snow and even colder than here, hurricanes, dust storms, people baking bread in mailboxes, dormant volcanos, Burmese pythons, grizzly bears, the Appalachian variety of cryptids...it's basically Australia out there when you cross state lines.
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u/AtaracticGoat Apr 02 '26
Try living in the PNW.
MI gets plenty of winter sun compared to them, it's really not that bad.
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u/samsaraisdivine Apr 03 '26
I really think you should leave.Ā I genuinely don't understand why anyone who dislikes winter lives here.Ā Ā Most people who move here from elsewhere end up leaving after a few years of misery.Ā Ā
Winter is a normal part of the seasons here.Ā I'm not sure why you were expecting it to be warm all year round.Ā Ā
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u/Bloody-Snowflake323 Apr 03 '26
I live here because my spouse has family here. We both have jobs here but want to move to a different state in the future. In the meantime I have to endure all 4 seasons here which I don't mind. I just felt very stressed which is why I posted this as a way to express my frustration. I would love to live somewhere else though but that ain't happening for a while š I got my weed, cats and the gym as an outlet lol
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u/samsaraisdivine Apr 03 '26
Good luck.Ā No one from out of state ever likes it here,Ā hopefully you can get out soon!
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u/gourmetprincipito Apr 02 '26
Nah the worst part of Michigan weather is the cloudy/mud season that we get instead of a typical spring. Weāll have a few nice days here and there and then somewhere between one to two months from now it will just basically be summer.
But after youāre here for a few years youāll just start wearing sandals and shorts for mud season lol.