A storm system with winter and spring weather, combined with Michigan’s unique shape and surrounding Great Lakes, make Wednesday’s temperature map hard to believe.
It happens only here in Michigan. We are the only state with our shape and Great Lakes surrounding us in every direction.
Other states can have wacky temperature patterns in the heart of a storm system. Michigan is the only place we can mix those storm system temperatures with our mitten and our powerful lakes.
Here’s the high temperature map for Wednesday, February 18. It’s almost unbelievable.
High temperature forecast for Wednesday, February 18, 2026.NOAA
Believe it. Warm air will move in from the south. Over the northern half of Lower Michigan, an easterly and northeasterly wind will funnel very cold air in from over icy Lake Huron.
Somewhere around Saginaw, Bay City, Clare and Traverse City, we could have a big shock going from temperatures in the 50s to temperatures near freezing.
Imagine going from Ann Arbor to Bay City to visit family Wednesday afternoon.
You open the door in Ann Arbor to see what it’s like outside. It’s a common ritual at this time of year. It’s very nice. It’s 61 degrees, which right now feels like a spring dream. So you put on a light jacket and start driving north. You get out of your car in Bay City, and you freeze.
Only in Michigan weather!
This should be a reminder that we all need to keep a winter coat, gloves and a winter hat in our car at all times at this time of year.
Just a slight shift in the wind direction, and temperatures plummet.
It happens in Detroit and Ann Arbor when a normally warm southeast wind develops. Cold air from Lake Erie smothers out the spring feel.
It’s extremely common around Saginaw Bay until May. Any wind shift to air blowing in from Lake Huron is a cold slap in the face.
On the west side of Lower Michigan the glorious and warm southwest wind can tweak just a touch to the west. When that happens, here comes a freezing fog bank off of Lake Michigan.
In the Traverse City area this harsh temperature change is a regular occurrence until June!
Find that winter coat you don’t regularly wear, and shove it in the back seat or trunk of your vehicle.
I guess you should also have the opposite – a lighter jacket in the car in case you have to go from a winter coat to spring bliss.
Only in Michigan!
Try to stay ahead of these rapid temperature changes at MLive.com/weather.
