Why do cities near South Bend typically receive so much more snowfall in winter than other places in Indiana?
South Bend and cities nearby are located in the vicinity of Lake Michigan . This proximity and geographic position relative to one of the Great Lakes directly impacts the total amount of winter snowfall they receive. During winter northerly and northwesterly winds occur frequently in this region. As Lake Michigan is oriented primarily north to south, winter winds from Canada travel the entire length of this lake. Moisture is evaporated from the surface of unfrozen Lake Michigan into this southward moving air mass as it approaches Indiana . As the moisture laden winds contact the colder land surface at the southern tip of Lake Michigan , this air mass quickly cools and loses its capacity to hold this quantity of moisture. After enough cooling has occurred, the excess moisture is released as snowfall. This usually occurs in Indiana counties bordering Lake Michigan and is especially common in and around the city of South Bend . This entire process is referred to by meteorologists and clim
