“All we need is a nice cold front and some rain,” said Eade, a Holland resident and executive director of the Michigan Steelhead and Salmon Fishermen’s Association.
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Nearly three weeks into October, much of Michigan remains stuck in early autumn mode, fueling frustration for fall anglers, exaltation for late-season swimmers, and itchiness for anyone who ventures outside for too long without bug spray.
Experts say it’s not an anomaly: For decades now, climate change has been slowly stealing Michigan’s crisp Octobers and replacing them with a milder, muggier, buggier version.
Record warmth in the Great Lakes
Tuesday’s high in Detroit is expected to be 72 degrees — 11 degrees higher than the historic average for Oct. 19.
Across the state, Michigan’s October temperatures have been between 10 and 15 degrees above long-term averages, said Richard Rood, a University of Michigan professor who is an expert in weather modeling and co-principal investigator at the Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessments.
What’s causing the warm fall? It’s not just warm days, Rood said, but also “a lot of accumulated heat in the environment.” Specifically, in the Great Lakes, which cool down slower than the surrounding air.