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The Weather in Detroit is variable. The best time to visit Detroit is in the summer when the weather is warm and sunny.
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The Weather in Detroit
The weather in Detroit is hot and humid in the summer and cold and snowy in the winter. The spring and fall are mild with occasional showers.
The climate of Detroit
The climate of Detroit is a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfa/Dfb) with hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. The city experiences four distinct seasons.
Spring in Detroit brings variable weather conditions. The onset of spring can be early, as March temperatures occasionally reach 68 °F (20 °C). However, as late as April, temperatures may struggle to reach 50 °F (10 °C). Partly to mostly cloudy skies are common during the spring months. Rainfall is also common during the spring, with average rainfall amounts near 3 inches (76 mm). Occasionally, thunderstorms may bring damaging winds or even tornadoes to the area.
Summer in Detroit is hot and humid. Temperatures in June, July and August average around 80 °F (27 °C), with highs reaching into the low 90s °F (32–34 °C) on occasion. The record high temperature for Detroit is 105 °F (41 °C), which occurred twice in 1936; the record low temperature is −21 °F (−29 °C), which occurred on January 21, 1984.
Fall in Detroit brings cooler temperatures and shorter days. As autumn progresses into winter, average high temperatures rapidly decline; by November highs are only around 45 °F (7–8 °C). However, some days can still be quite warm during this time of year; peaked at 77 degrees Fahrenheit on October 10th, 2017. The first freeze usually occurs sometime in mid-to-late October; the average date of first freeze is October 20th.
Winter in Detroit generally brings cloudy skies and cold temperatures. The city experiences its greatest snowfall from December through February. On average, about 50 inches (130 cm) of snow falls per season; however year-to-year variation is common. Skiing is possible within a few hours drive from the city limits at destinations such as Mt. Brighton Ski Area and Mt Holly Ski Area
The average temperatures in Detroit
The following is a list of monthly average temperatures in Detroit, Michigan. The data comes from the National Climatic Data Center.
-January: 26°F
-February: 28°F
-March: 39°F
-April: 53°F
-May: 66°F
-June: 76°F
-July: 81°F
-August: 79°F
-September: 71°F
-October: 58°F
-November: 45°F
-December: 31°F
The precipitation in Detroit
Precipitation in Detroit is moderate, averaging about 30 inches (760 mm) per year. The city experiences four distinct seasons. Spring and fall are both pleasant, with temperatures in the 50s °F (10–15 °C) and 60s °F (15–20 °C). Summer temperatures occasionally exceed 90 °F (32 °C), while winter temperatures rarely drop below 20 °F (−7 °C). Detroit is located in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a.
The average window for freezing temperatures is October 20 thru April 24, yielding a growing season of 152 days. Snowfall accumulation averages about 38 inches (97 cm) per season but often varies widely from year to year and from neighborhood to neighborhood.
The Weather in Detroit by Season
If you’re wondering what the weather is like in Detroit, you’ve come to the right place. Detroit experiences all four seasons, so you can expect a variety of weather depending on the time of year. In the spring, temperatures start to warm up and you can expect to see rain showers. The summer is the warmest season, with average temperatures in the 80s. The fall is a lovely time of year, with temperatures cooling down and the leaves changing color. And finally, winter brings colder temperatures and the chance of snow.
Spring
The weather in Detroit in spring is mild and pleasant, with average temperatures ranging from the low 50s to the mid-70s. This is a great time to visit the city and enjoy its many attractions, including the Detroit Zoo, Belle Isle Park, and the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Summer
Summer in Detroit is warm, with temperatures averaging in the mid-80s. There can be humid days, particularly in July and August, but overall the humidity is not too bad. There are also a fair number of sunny days during the summer months. rainfall is moderate, and you can expect about 14 days of rain per month on average.
Fall
Fall in Detroit starts in September and temps gradually cool down through the month. The average high in September is 77 degrees, and the average low is 57 degrees. By October, the averages are 67 and 47, respectively. November sees highs of 51 degrees and lows of 34 degrees.
Precipitation-wise, October is the wettest month of the fall season with an average of 3.85 inches of rain/month. November is the driest month with an average of 2.59 inches. Snowfall starts to pick up in November as well, with an average of 3.7 inches for the month.
Winter
Late fall in Detroit starts off chilly, with an average temperature in November of 42.4 degrees Fahrenheit (5.8 degrees Celsius). As the winter season sets in, the average temperature for December and January dips to about 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius). Although snowfall can occur any time from October through May, the heaviest snows usually arrive in February. On average, Detroit gets 30.7 inches (78 cm) of snow per year. Blizzards occur more frequently along the Great Lakes than anywhere else in the contiguous United States.
