Frosts, ice and snow happened every month of the summer in 1816, due to a volcanic eruption in Asia the year before.

"The Year Without a Summer" caused food shortages, starvation and hard economic times — and helped fuel westward migration.

As Michiganders attempt to cool off in the particularly sweltering temperatures that have started this summer, it's difficult to imagine this time of year with frost, ice and snowfall, with residents forced to wear heavy coats, mittens and boots and warm themselves by the fireplace.

But not only did it happen, those frosty, icy, snowy conditions continued throughout June, July and August. And it would take about a century for scientists to begin to understand why it happened.

The year was 1816, and it came to be known as "The Year Without a Summer."

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