Some areas in the "Great Lakes region" do get a lot of snow, but other areas do not. It all depends on the location. If you are close to the lakes and also get a wind and weather affect from the SW, S, SE the snowfall can be very dramatic and troublesome, increasing costs and discomfort.
In in the areas with winds from the north, the snow can be common and build up the statistics over the season, but is not nearly as troublesome as the areas being fed southern/gulf moisture, which creates heavy, wet snow and ice problems. I lived in the northern lower peninsula of MI where we had an annual average of about 100" and a maximum one year of 200". Most of the snow was usually "sissy snow" and it was common to get 2" in the morning with thew sky appearing almost clear and the city did not bother to plow that type because it was so light, the cars blew it off the road, but we did get some 10"+ snows, but they were also very fluffy. The southern part of the state, got heavier more troublesome snow because of the type and source of southern moisture.
Where I am now (Minneapolis/St. Paul) our snowfall is not that great with an average of about 42". Last year we had 28" with a single maximum of about 8" and our record is about 95". Much of our snow comes in the early winter/late fall or very later winter (March). One year we got 21" on Halloween and it was gone in a couple of days and the ground was bare for several months. We do get some strange snow - It is called "snirt" (snow and dirt) that comes from the wind picking up dir in North Dakota and leaving a very light layer on any existing snow. The good thing is that our winter precipitation if followed by cold and clear skies, so the dark specks melt the snow around them when the sun comes out even at -0F. The dry weather is why I do not use my 4WD much, if at all. The exception is in the city where the cars prevent decent snow plowing, so it gets pushed and moved around and accumulates in some area. Because of parking regulations in many city area and all suburban areas, the plows run at 40 mph where possible, cleaning the streets/roads and getting the snow well away from most traffic areas. - There are always some exceptions.
The SW had its "dry heat" and we have our "dry snow/air".
Dick