[maclemente]

I am from Ohio and I know nothing about the weather in Michigan. My boyfriend is the in US Coast Guards and currently residing in Charlevoix. I want to know if anybody knows how is the weather up there if I'm planning to visit him between March 18th till the 23rd. I also want to know if it is smarter to just buy a plane ticket or drive (take note it is an 8 hr drive)Thanks.

[canudigit]

The weather in Michigan in mid-March, especially that far north, is probably still going to be pretty wintry. Maybe not with huge amounts of snow still falling, but there will likely be snow on the ground and the air temps will still be chilly. There is always a chance that we could have one of those weird weather patterns that come along once in a while and it could be in the fifties or something, but I wouldn't count on it. We live in the extreme SE corner of the state, and we have gotten inches of snow in the last week of March in the past. It's maybe not the norm, but it happens. Definitely pack warm, winter clothes, but also check the forecast ahead of time, and dress accordingly in the event of a rare early warm streak. Since Charlevoix is on the lake, that will also keep things cooler than somewhere inland.

As far as driving or flying, I guess it depends on how much you would mind if you were driving and it began snowing and the roads became slick, because it could happen. You'll have to weigh things like expense, time, etc. to decide what to do there. I am cheap, so I would probably drive and just be extra careful in the event of winter weather, but I have driven in it all of my life.

Good luck!

[jaynarie]

My birthday is at the end of March and it has been snowy more times than not on my b-day. And I grew up near Flint (so further south and on the east side of the state).
The last few years it has snowed around Easter (which was in April this year).

You practically guaranteed to either deal with snow or a cold rain at that point of the year.

I'd also probably just drive and be careful. I drove home for Easter last year and dealt with more snow then than I did at Christmas.

[danielj72]

March is not a nice month here. Its still cold, but the beauty of winter is starting to melt away by then. Its a very slushy then. Its a good time of year to go to one of the indoor waterparks in that area, like say great wolf lodge. As far as flying, I wouldnt because tickets will be higher flying into that area of Michigan.

[scolls]

Not too mention there is no airport in Charlevioux and would have to fly to Traverse City and drive there.

My birthday is April and we got 13" on my birthday back in 1999.

[alliteration]

I was up in Petoskey for easter last year and it was cold. 17 at night and only about 30 during the day, and this was the first week of April. There was still a decent amount of snow on the ground. Here in Lansing, we had already had days in the 60s and the snow had been gone for quite awhile, so its a bit colder there even compared to mid-michigan.

[wagonman76]

March is usually still very cold and snowy, and sometimes the snow starts to melt but sometimes not. Up here I still see occassional flurries and sleet in May.

Just treat March in northern Michigan as your full blown winter in Ohio.

[Perferator]

Hi Maclemente,

We just moved to Boyne City (on lake charlevoix) from Charlevoix. We lived there 7yrs. Michigan weather in March is a real crap shoot (no pun). You can have a week of warm weather and suddenly have 3 blizzards back-to-back the next week. It's that unpredictable and unstable. The nicest part of March is that typically you wont have the subzero weather for weeks on end, nor does the snow last for long. If you have to dig yourself out now and then in March you can console yourself with the thought that there is light at the end of the winter tunnel by time mid-March is at hand. Just dont expect balmy weather and you wont be disappointed.

Do you like wind? Charlevoix is very, very windy in March.