Great Lake Temps Are Low, What Does That Mean For Winter?

The Great Lakes are colder this year than normal.  Does this mean that winter is going to be worse for us?  Not necessarily.

According to meteorologist Mark Torregrossa who studies temperature on Lake Michigan, the temperatures on all five of the Great Lakes are around four degrees lower this year than they were at this time last year.

What does it mean?

Torregrossa explains that when the water is warmer, it helps to warm cold air masses that are dropping in from Canada.  While the opposite is true for cold water.  Not that it will make the air colder, but it will allow the cold masses to "easily take over the Great Lakes region."

So, it looks as though winter might not be more harsh due to the cold lake temperatures but it might come a little earlier for us.