How do we predict the weather? Climate & Weather In The Great Lakes region...Let's go tripping

What will the weather be like for the months ahead? Well, we have more or less an idea of what it is going to be for much of the US, and some areas of the world. Yet some areas we can't be so sure about every time, as we can about other areas. Why? Well, two things that can influence weather, or climate or global climate, as well as local climate. So we can't always just rely on major climatic cycles, such as that of El Nino. Usually the climate in North America is continental. Take the Great Lakes area for example however. This area is in the midst of some huge bodies of water. And the climate there is effectively a modified continental climate. It's a mix of both continental and marine climates. Which is what makes this climate really interesting. The lakes help fronts move quickly across the land, from state to state. And during winter they help cause severe snowstorms because they don't cool off as much as the land. And then, during the summer, they can be cooler than the land. The weather here can change in...five minutes! This year, the lakes are virtually devoid of all ice. So it's expected that lake effect snow can last unusually long this year, as much of the water still has the ability to keep evaporating. So, while cycles such as El Nino can have some kind of an effect on our weather, it is also dictated by the lakes themselves. A collective body water that is far, far smaller than any of the world's oceans, and can still have a major effect on our weather here, if compared to El Nino. This year's cycle is the same as last years (so far). And because of this, it's easier to predict how the weather will progress through time. The lakes will likely not be as cool for so long as they were a year ago, when they were covered with a record amount of ice. And El Nino usually translates into a cooler spring than average. So how will the Great Lakes interact with our national climate? Hmmm... Or how about in August, or November? If only we could figure out how the seasons of summer & fall will be like. The movement of cool air over warm water vs that of cool air vs cool water? Or will it be something else during fall/Summer situation? And I think we should explore the situations that could come about if the lakes will warm up, or cool down. How will this possibly effect things such as cloud cover, storms, precip, wave height, and so on and so one...? This is something I'd like to know more about. Also, what are the other influences that the Great Lakes might cause on our climate, such as increased humdity? Hey, it's interesting when we have a cool lake on a humid day. Then we can travel down there and camp overnight, to possibly witness some storms coming through. Except that when there are storms over here, I'm afraid they'll leave pretty soon because they'll be fast movers. It's crazy when you get to watch storms over the great lakes as you can see lightning, without needing to hear it. So, what do you think about taking a trip someday? We could become America's next top weather peeps! And when people use the term "tripping" they're really just telling you that observing the weather can be a trip...