New to the Great Lakes State? If you've just moved to Michigan thinking the Mitten State would coddle you with gentle snowfall and Instagram-worthy scenes—welcome to reality.

RELATED: Why Michigan Is Feeling More, Longer Artic Blasts

This week, the Polar Vortex has RSVP'ed for an extended stay, and it's bringing its frigid attitude to our already icy doorstep.

Michigan's Tuesday With an Artic Blast

Michigan's Mackinac Bridge is seen with piles of ice on the water and a pair of hands rubbing themselves together to stay warm
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Let's break down the next week of bitter cold and snow:

  • Snow First, Then Misery: MLive reports light snow today (Sunday, January 12, 2024), 1-3 inches possible, depending on where you are in Mid-Michigan. But, this dose of snow is just the appetizer.
  • Tuesday's Artic Air Punch: ClickOnDetroit reports temps will free-fall to highs of only 19-23 degrees, but (and you knew there was one coming, didn't you?) with wind chills that make it feel like single-digit temperatures that have you fantasizing about all things "South"
  • Wednesday's Windy Brutality: Wind chills below zero have been forecasted by MLive, with highs barely breaking the low 20s and nighttime temps in the teens. So basically, it's like living in a Meijer freezer

Tips for Surviving Michigan's Frozen Tundra

A Michigan street is seen, blown with snow on a bitter cold day with a woman only wearing a sweater, knitted hat and mittens.
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If you're new to Michigan's winter, here are a few tips to help you survive the next couple of days:

  1. Layer Up, Rookie: Fashion sense is canceled when Artic Blasts visit. Gloves, hats, scarves, sweatshirts, longjohns, down feathers, and Gortex are your new best friends.
  2. Cars Need Love Too: Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle. Blankets (you can never have to many, but you'll look like you're preparing for a murder), flashlights, snacks. Think of your car as a winter survival bunker. Getting stuck in frigid temperatures isn't fun, but it is possible.
  3. If You're Cold, So Is Your Pet: Bring them inside. Period.
  4. Don't Have to Go Anywhere? Don't: If you don't need to go outside, don't. The Polar Vortex can't ruin your plans if you must stay home, wear your sweatpants, and don't challenge Mother Nature

Why Is Michigan Getting Nailed By Arctic Blasts?

An infograph describing the effects of warmer air on the polar jet stream. The graphic shows a typical polar jet stream moving in a circle next to an image of a disturbed polar jet stream that stretches and dips like a rollercoaster.
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Blame the Polar Vortex, a wandering Arctic air mass that decided Michigan was an excellent spot for icy cold temperatures. We're lucky, though, because Lake Michigan heats the northern air a bit, saving us from the full effects.

New to Michigan? Congratulations, you're officially in the club. Now grab a shovel, some salt, and a sense of humor—you'll need all three.

Blizzard of 1978: When Mother Nature's Fury Shut Down Michigan

The Blizzard of 1978 was an iconic storm system made possible by two converging fronts, one from the Gulf of Mexico, meeting a northern system from Canada creating record snowfall and hurricane-force winds that shutdown Michigan's transportation system, both on the ground and in the air. Here's a look at WOOD TV 8's coverage from January 25th through January 27th, 1978.

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow

World's Largest Snow Thermometer is in Mohawk, Michigan

Michigan's Upper Peninsula is full of beautiful views, but if you're looking for the perfect 'Proof of Vacation' photo, then Keweenaw's Snow Thermometer is a must-see. Here's a look at the World's Largest Snow Thermometer.

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow

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