[kalamazoo2011]

Does it snow the same amount in Kalamazoo as in Detroit? Is the snow amount different in downtown Kalamazoo compared to Portage? I would like to get an idea of how much it actually snows. Also, does it usually snow the usual from Nov to April.

[Bydand]

K-Zoo gets about 20-25" a year more snow on average. A real good place to look up weather stats is Weatherbase. That link is for Michigan, but they have some stats from all over the World.

[313Weather]

Originally Posted by kalamazoo2011

Does it snow the same amount in Kalamazoo as in Detroit? Is the snow amount different in downtown Kalamazoo compared to Portage? I would like to get an idea of how much it actually snows. Also, does it usually snow the usual from Nov to April.

Yes, because they receive lake effect snow (being in such close proximity to Lake Michigan) in addition to synoptic snow, where as Detroit mostly just receives Synoptic snow.

[kalamazoo2011]

thanks a lot, I will check out that website.

[magellan]

No need to check out any websites. I've lived in mid-Michigan, SE Michigan, Kalamazoo and now GR. Kalamazoo gets about twice as much snow as mid-Michigan and SE Michigan, and about the same as Grand Rapids. Hope that helps.

[kalamazoo2011]

thanks yes that does help.

[Nightrider86]

I have lived in Kalamazoo all my life. We get a larger amount of snow than detroit area because we are very close in proximity to the lake. You will notice in the western suburbs (i.e. Paw Paw, Mattawan, Dowagiac areas) they will get a few more inches than us, but we get a considerable amount of snow for the lower penninsula. A friend of mine lives in Warren, last year he had 2 inches of snow on the ground and we had over a foot. The lake effect is a major factor in our winter weather patterns.

[Sgt. Buzzcut]

^^^^ This. I've had many a night where as soon as I got off of 131 and headed West on Red Arrow Hwy it got exponentially worse every mile. It always seemed if Paw Paw/Lawton /Mattawan got 12", 6" or 3" then Kzoo would get 6",3" or flurries.

[northstar22]

Portage doesn't see appreciably less snow than Kalamazoo. The real difference is, as others have mentioned, east to west. The west sides of Portage and Kalamazoo will see more snow than the east sides due to the lake effect. The western 'burbs get even more lake-effect snow. Generally, the heaviest snow amounts are in Allegan County and northern Van Buren county. Places like Gobles, Bangor, and Allegan get pelted with snow.

[michsnowlvr]

Snowfall averages always vary +/- a few inches, but the latest numbers would indicate average seasonal snowfall is 43 inches in Detroit and 69 inches in Kalamazoo.

The Weatherbase link isnt too accurate actually. For better help check the national weather service homepage.

For SW MI
National Weather Service Forecast Office - Grand Rapids, MI

For SE MI
Welcome to the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Detroit/Pontiac