Climateby Month

Cleveland vs Detroit weather

Cleveland, OH and Detroit, MI · 90 mi apart

July highs: 84°F in Cleveland, 84°F in Detroit. January highs: 36°F and 32°F (Cleveland is 4°F warmer). Cleveland has about 158 wet days a year, Detroit about 136. Muggy days: about 32 a year in Cleveland, about 27 in Detroit. Snow: 63.8 in a year in Cleveland, 45.0 in in Detroit.

Cleveland, OH

0°20°40°60°80°100° January: normal high 36°F (2°C), low 22°F (-6°C) 36° 22° February: normal high 39°F (4°C), low 24°F (-4°C) March: normal high 47°F (8°C), low 31°F (-1°C) April: normal high 60°F (16°C), low 41°F (5°C) May: normal high 71°F (22°C), low 51°F (11°C) June: normal high 80°F (27°C), low 61°F (16°C) July: normal high 84°F (29°C), low 65°F (18°C) 84° 65° August: normal high 82°F (28°C), low 64°F (18°C) September: normal high 76°F (24°C), low 57°F (14°C) October: normal high 64°F (18°C), low 47°F (8°C) November: normal high 51°F (11°C), low 37°F (3°C) December: normal high 40°F (4°C), low 28°F (-2°C) JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: May, June, September

Detroit, MI

0°20°40°60°80°100° January: normal high 32°F (0°C), low 20°F (-7°C) 32° 20° February: normal high 35°F (2°C), low 21°F (-6°C) March: normal high 45°F (7°C), low 28°F (-2°C) April: normal high 58°F (14°C), low 39°F (4°C) May: normal high 70°F (21°C), low 50°F (10°C) June: normal high 79°F (26°C), low 60°F (16°C) July: normal high 84°F (29°C), low 65°F (18°C) 84° 65° August: normal high 81°F (27°C), low 64°F (18°C) September: normal high 74°F (23°C), low 56°F (13°C) October: normal high 61°F (16°C), low 45°F (7°C) November: normal high 48°F (9°C), low 34°F (1°C) December: normal high 37°F (3°C), low 26°F (-3°C) JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: May, June, September

Which city for what

  • Milder winters: Cleveland (January high 36°F vs January high 32°F)
  • Fewer wet days: Detroit (136 a year vs 158 a year)
  • Less snow: Detroit (45.0 in vs 63.8 in)
  • Longer growing season: Cleveland (217 frost-free days vs 190 frost-free days)

Listed only where the difference is at least 3°F in highs, 10 days a year or 3 in of snow.

Season by season

SeasonAvg high ClevelandAvg high DetroitWet days ClevelandWet days Detroit
Winter (Dec-Feb)38°F35°F4837
Spring (Mar-May)59°F57°F4337
Summer (Jun-Aug)82°F81°F3331
Fall (Sep-Nov)64°F61°F3531

Side by side over a year

ClevelandDetroit
Hot days (90°F+)1214
Freezing nights111113
Muggy days3227
Comfortable days8379
Precipitation41.0 in34.3 in
Snowfall63.8 in45.0 in
Frost dateslast Apr 8, first Nov 12last Apr 21, first Oct 31
Daylight in June / December15.1 h / 9.2 h15.2 h / 9.1 h
Best monthsMay, June, SeptemberMay, June, September

Day counts from each city's daily records, 1991-2020. Comfortable days: highs 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F.

Month by month

MonthHigh ClevelandHigh DetroitWet days ClevelandWet days Detroit
January36°F32°F1813
February39°F35°F1411
March47°F45°F1511
April60°F58°F1513
May71°F70°F1313
June80°F79°F1211
July84°F84°F1111
August82°F81°F1010
September76°F74°F1010
October64°F61°F1211
November51°F48°F1311
December40°F37°F1613

Both charts use the same temperature scale.

Where the numbers come from

  • Cleveland, OH: temperature from Cleveland (USW00014820), 10 mi SW of the city center; precipitation from Cleveland (USW00014820). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.
  • Detroit, MI: temperature from Detroit City Airport (USW00014822), 5.7 mi NNE of the city center; precipitation from Detroit Metro Airport (USW00094847). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.

Every station for each city, including humidity and frost, is listed on the city page. Methodology.