[michigan83]

One of the worst things for the Michigan environment is to have another no snow winter like last year. It's really quite devastating.
I have over 20 miles to drive to work on all back roads and lots of hills, so when it snows, I leave earlier and drive careful. Simple. I also find it fun driving in the snow and ice, though more in snow than on ice.
Damn, one of the reasons I moved back to MI from Alaska was for the snow.

I also like driving in snow, for the most part. Ice, not so much. But I do a lot of my driving on country roads. I think a lot of the people who truly hate driving in the snow are always driving in traffic, on city streets, and on busy freeways. There is nothing fun about driving in snow when you are surrounded by other cars, because you can't trust anyone else. I think that is where a lot of the hatred of snow comes from.

But if I'm driving in the country, and it's snowing steadily (but not too windy or anything) I usually enjoy it.

I think the other factor is that not everyone has a high enough level of confidence with handling a vehicle. Not that it's their fault, because some people don't ever get a chance to develop it. If you learned to drive from age 16 on busy streets and you never got a chance to really "experiment", you will never learn how much control you really have over your vehicle, even in snow. Growing up on gravel roads where there wasn't much danger to me or anyone else, I had a lot of chances to play around with different vehicles and learn how they handle in the snow. When I was in high school, one of our favorite things to do was drive around on back roads and hit snow drifts on purpose. In hindsight, it probably wasn't the best idea, but I sure learned how to handle a car in the snow. It has really helped me over the years to be comfortable driving in the snow.

[Ceege]

I loved last winter. Very little snow to shovel, for one thing. However, I don't mind a moderate winter. Some snow is fine. It's the wind that gets me. I don't mind a little breeze and there is nothing more refreshing than walking outside on a cold crisp winter day. But if that cold crisp winter day has high wind attached, it becomes a bitter cold miserable day. In the summer we hear about the humidity, in the winter it's the wind chill factor.

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by michigan83

Growing up on gravel roads where there wasn't much danger to me or anyone else, I had a lot of chances to play around with different vehicles and learn how they handle in the snow. When I was in high school, one of our favorite things to do was drive around on back roads and hit snow drifts on purpose.

LOL! Are you sure we didn't hang out in High School? We did the same thing in the Soo. I've driven everything from a clapped out Opel Kadette Wagon to a rather large DMC snow groomer through snow (favorite snow play thing has to be the old Tucker Sno-Cat). I enjoy a nice drive in the snow on country roads. Takes me back to much quieter and a simpler time in my life when there was little responsibility and nobody else to worry about day in and day out. (I like my life much better now with those people in it, but it was simpler back then.)

[jkels]

I'm like some others. I have no problem driving in the snow, until there's other cars. I can drive just fine, but I don't trust the idiot flying up behind me, and if I don't feel comfortable driving a certain speed don't (try to) make me! Of the two accidents I've ever been in one was from another vehicle flying past me and spinning me out. On another note, snow is pretty, and I love when it comes on my days off. My lil one would love some too!

[Giesela]

For you dissenter's...won't be so happy in the summer when lake levels are low low low. Its not just that some people enjoy snow, its that its important to replenish water levels.

[irongrl]

Originally Posted by Ceege

I loved last winter. Very little snow to shovel, for one thing. However, I don't mind a moderate winter. Some snow is fine. It's the wind that gets me. I don't mind a little breeze and there is nothing more refreshing than walking outside on a cold crisp winter day. But if that cold crisp winter day has high wind attached, it becomes a bitter cold miserable day. In the summer we hear about the humidity, in the winter it's the wind chill factor.

I loved last winter too! I do much better in warmer weather, and this past summer was the best one I've had since I moved to Michigan in 2007.

[JGatti]

I have never considered winter to be 6 months long. Because it's cooler does not make it winter to me. I view winter to be from December to mid March with maybe a snow fall shortly into April.

[Luzette]

Originally Posted by Giesela

For you dissenter's...won't be so happy in the summer when lake levels are low low low. Its not just that some people enjoy snow, its that its important to replenish water levels.

You're right about the water levels and snow. I don't want the environment to suffer anymore than it did last year so I say bring on whatever snow is needed to reverse that situation. I won't like it personally but that's not the point of the matter. Today is a good example though of why I don't care for snow even though I don't mind the cold temps. We missed church because of overnight snow. It wasn't all that bad if it were just me, but I have an elder mother who is poor with her walking even in good circumstances. She wanted to go to church but didn't want to walk on the snow then I wasn't sure how much ice might have been underneath. The plow had gone by sometime during the night so I had a good bit thrown up in my drive. Young folks or people without mobility problems can manage this with no problem but for many others it's a real issue. What traffic was on the road looked like it was slippery conditions. Winter drops many people down to missing some things they would like to attend but don't due to the weather.

[DONNIEANDDONNA417]

Well we did get a little snow saturday here in flint I say Bring on more!!

[tsholcom]

I wouldn't despair about the lack of snow, it will come. That being said we are kind of on the statistical slow side...

Average Dates of First Measurable Snowfalls Across Southeast Michigan