Climateby Month

Detroit vs Grand Rapids weather

Detroit, MI and Grand Rapids, MI · 140 mi apart

July highs: 84°F in Detroit, 83°F in Grand Rapids (Detroit is 1°F warmer). January highs: 32°F and 31°F (Detroit is 1°F warmer). Detroit has about 136 wet days a year, Grand Rapids about 149. Muggy days: about 27 a year in Detroit, about 26 in Grand Rapids. Snow: 45.0 in a year in Detroit, 77.6 in in Grand Rapids.

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

Grand Rapids, MI

0°20°40°60°80°100° January: normal high 31°F (-1°C), low 19°F (-7°C) 31° 19° February: normal high 34°F (1°C), low 20°F (-7°C) March: normal high 45°F (7°C), low 27°F (-3°C) April: normal high 58°F (14°C), low 37°F (3°C) May: normal high 70°F (21°C), low 49°F (9°C) June: normal high 79°F (26°C), low 58°F (14°C) July: normal high 83°F (28°C), low 63°F (17°C) 83° 63° August: normal high 81°F (27°C), low 61°F (16°C) September: normal high 74°F (23°C), low 53°F (12°C) October: normal high 61°F (16°C), low 42°F (6°C) November: normal high 47°F (8°C), low 33°F (1°C) December: normal high 36°F (2°C), low 25°F (-4°C) JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: May, June, September

Which city for what

  • Fewer wet days: Detroit (136 a year vs 149 a year)
  • Less snow: Detroit (45.0 in vs 77.6 in)
  • Longer growing season: Detroit (190 frost-free days vs 174 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 DetroitAvg high Grand RapidsWet days DetroitWet days Grand Rapids
Winter (Dec-Feb)35°F34°F3745
Spring (Mar-May)57°F57°F3737
Summer (Jun-Aug)81°F81°F3131
Fall (Sep-Nov)61°F61°F3136

Side by side over a year

DetroitGrand Rapids
Hot days (90°F+)1410
Freezing nights113133
Muggy days2726
Comfortable days7980
Precipitation34.3 in39.4 in
Snowfall45.0 in77.6 in
Frost dateslast Apr 21, first Oct 31last Apr 29, first Oct 20
Daylight in June / December15.2 h / 9.1 h15.3 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 DetroitHigh Grand RapidsWet days DetroitWet days Grand Rapids
January32°F31°F1317
February35°F34°F1113
March45°F45°F1112
April58°F58°F1313
May70°F70°F1313
June79°F79°F1111
July84°F83°F1110
August81°F81°F1010
September74°F74°F1010
October61°F61°F1113
November48°F47°F1113
December37°F36°F1316

Both charts use the same temperature scale.

Where the numbers come from

  • 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.
  • Grand Rapids, MI: temperature from Grand Rapids (USW00094860), 7.9 mi SE of the city center; precipitation from Grand Rapids (USW00094860). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.

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