CLOUDINESS

Michigan residents often joke or complain about how cloudy the state is.  The map below shows that, on an annual basis, it really is a cloudy place.  Areas downwind (east of) the Great Lakes are the most cloudy, due to the evaporation of water off the lakes' surface.  These areas receive only 50% or less of the total possible sunshine, meaning that they are cloudy about half or a little more than half of the time.

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Source: Unknown

This material has been compiled for educational use only, and may not be reproduced without permission.  One copy may be printed for personal use.  Please contact Randall Schaetzl (soils@msu.edu) for more information or permissions.