Difference in temperature?

Question

Imagine it is winter and that you live in Chicago, just several blocks from Lake Michigan. It is 40 degrees where you are. You call a friend who lives in the suburbs and your friend tells you it its 30 degrees there. Why is there such a difference in temperature between the two areas? (does the presence of the lake affect the temperature?)

Answer 1

Living near a lake may greatly affect the temperture of your surrounding area. Think about this: Most people that live off the coastal ways affected by temperture vasting between 25 degrees. So when your in that winter day and have just a ten degree temperature different due to the lake your near (that is btw effecting temperure because of the wind hitting the water and the water is way colder than outside which causes the wind to become colder)

Answer 2

The answers above are good.  I'd like to emphasize two things.

First, Lake Michigan does have a big impact on the weather.  Oceans and large lakes help stabilize the temperatures due to the onshore flow from those lakes.  Thus, in winter, it'll always be warmer the nearer you are to the lake, due to the warmer waters of the lake.

Second, in cities, there are almost innumerable streets and buildings.  The concrete/brick/asphalt retains heat (I'm sure you've heard of frying an egg on someone's front porch).  In the summer (and to a slightly lesser extent, the winter) the heat these buildings retain causes the temperature to be slightly higher in the city than the surrounding areas.  Hope it was helpful!

Answer 3

Yes, living near the Lakes can have an affect on the atmosphere.  During the early parts of winter especially, the Lakes are still on the warmer side so when winds blow off the water areas on the side of the Lake in which the winds are coming from will tend to be warmer than surrounding areas b/c of this.  

Here in CT we have that.  During the winter months the shoreline tends to be a tad warmer than inland sections, especially during SW/S/SE winds b/c the winds are coming off Long Island Sound which is in the 40's.

Answer 4

The lake does affect temperature, but there are many factors to be considered with that.

Local temperatures, especially in an urban environment like a city with tall buildings and lots or traffic, can, and often do vary greatly from surrounding areas without those variables.

Buildings cut wind force, absorb heat during the day, reflect heat into the surrounding area, and give off heat at night. Pavement, waste heat from heating/ a/c units, car and truck emissions, and industrial sources like incinerators and furnaces all add to ambient temperatures.

A few miles away, in more open areas, with less heat being generated or stored, and more open to wind and weather, the temps may be much different.

On a bigger scale, lake effects from the lake being warmer than the air if not frozen may add to higher temps closer to the lake, and colder if the lake has frozen over.

The farther from the body of water, the less effects.