Climate Comfort Score
68/100
Good
NOAA 1991–2020 normals 51°F annual avg Public-domain federal data
Detroit City, MI Climate
Explore average temperature, rainfall, and comfort score sourced from NOAA NCEI's 1991–2020 climate normals →
- 51°F
- Avg annual temp
- 68/100
- Comfort score
- 29.9"
- Annual precip
- 193d
- Growing season
30-year climate normals from 1 weather station (1991-2020).
The climate verdict for Detroit City
Detroit City, Michigan averages 51°F a year and scores 68/100 on the comfort index - good, milder than 58% of U.S. cities.
- 51°F
- average temperature, NOAA 1991-2020 normal
- 68/100
- comfort score, milder than 58% of U.S. cities
- 29.9"
- annual precipitation
- 193 days
- frost-free days per growing season
Based on NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020) - 30-year averages describing the typical year, not a forecast.
Avg Temperature
51°F (10°C)
Avg High
59°F
Avg Low
42°F
Annual Precip
29.9"
Comfort Score
68/100
Good
Avg Annual Temperature
51°F
30-year mean (NOAA NCEI)
Annual Precipitation
29.9"
Liquid-equivalent total
Comfort score vs national 100-point ceiling (Detroit City) 68.0%
National median (63)
PlainClimate composite, temperature mildness, humidity, precipitation, extreme-weather frequency. Good for the Detroit City area.
How Detroit City compares to every U.S. city
Detroit City's comfort score vs. all U.S. cities
PlainClimate composite comfort index (1–100), NOAA 1991–2020 normals
68 Top 42% higher than 58% of 6,915 US cities
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, PlainClimate comfort index · 1991–2020
Warming context for Detroit City
MethodologySince 1900, U.S. land temperatures have tracked (and diverged from) the global mean - the chart below shows how. Detroit City's current NOAA 1991-2020 normal sits within that longer spread, and the most recent decade runs warmer than the 30-year mean.
- United States land mean (NOAA NCEI) +0.11 °C/decade
- Global anomaly (NASA GISTEMP) +0.11 °C/decade
- Paris Agreement thresholds 1.5°C / 2.0°C
Monthly Temperatures
Average daily high and low temperatures by month
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Mean | Precip | Freeze Days | 90°F+ Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32°F (0°C) | 20°F (-7°C) | 26°F (-3°C) | 1.4" | 26.9 | 0.0 |
| February | 35°F (2°C) | 21°F (-6°C) | 28°F (-2°C) | 1.4" | 24.3 | 0.0 |
| March | 45°F (7°C) | 28°F (-2°C) | 37°F (3°C) | 2.0" | 20.3 | 0.0 |
| April | 58°F (14°C) | 39°F (4°C) | 48°F (9°C) | 2.8" | 5.8 | 0.0 |
| May | 70°F (21°C) | 50°F (10°C) | 60°F (15°C) | 3.5" | 0.1 | 0.5 |
| June | 79°F (26°C) | 60°F (16°C) | 70°F (21°C) | 3.1" | 0.0 | 3.3 |
| July | 84°F (29°C) | 65°F (18°C) | 74°F (23°C) | 3.2" | 0.0 | 5.8 |
| August | 81°F (27°C) | 64°F (18°C) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.1" | 0.0 | 2.8 |
| September | 74°F (24°C) | 56°F (13°C) | 65°F (18°C) | 3.1" | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| October | 61°F (16°C) | 45°F (7°C) | 53°F (12°C) | 2.3" | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| November | 48°F (9°C) | 34°F (1°C) | 41°F (5°C) | 2.2" | 11.4 | 0.0 |
| December | 37°F (3°C) | 26°F (-3°C) | 32°F (0°C) | 1.7" | 22.7 | 0.0 |
Monthly Precipitation
Average monthly rainfall
January 1.4"
9.9 days with precipitation
February 1.4"
8.6 days with precipitation
March 2.0"
9.9 days with precipitation
April 2.8"
12.1 days with precipitation
May 3.5"
13.8 days with precipitation
June 3.1"
10.1 days with precipitation
July 3.2"
10.3 days with precipitation
August 3.1"
9.6 days with precipitation
September 3.1"
9.2 days with precipitation
October 2.3"
10.9 days with precipitation
November 2.2"
9.9 days with precipitation
December 1.7"
11.1 days with precipitation
Frost Dates & Growing Season
First Fall Freeze
October 31
50% probability date
Last Spring Freeze
April 21
50% probability date
Growing Season
193 days
Heating & Cooling Degree Days
Annual totals indicate energy demand for heating and cooling
Heating Degree Days
6,106
Higher = more heating needed
Cooling Degree Days
854
Higher = more cooling needed
Warmest Month
July
Coldest Month
January
Humidity & Wind
Monthly averages from hourly observations
| Month | Humidity | Wind (mph) | Clear Sky % | Overcast % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 69% | 9.7 | N/A | N/A |
| February | 67% | 9.6 | N/A | N/A |
| March | 63% | 9.5 | N/A | N/A |
| April | 58% | 9.2 | 45% | 25% |
| May | 62% | 8.0 | 47% | 22% |
| June | 61% | 7.4 | 51% | 11% |
| July | 64% | 6.9 | 49% | 11% |
| August | 68% | 6.9 | 52% | 15% |
| September | 69% | 7.8 | N/A | N/A |
| October | 69% | 8.8 | N/A | N/A |
| November | 72% | 9.6 | N/A | N/A |
| December | 76% | 9.7 | N/A | N/A |
What Detroit City's climate means for you
Detroit City runs 51°F a year - peaking in July, coldest in January.
- Gardeners get about 193 frost-free days, with the last spring freeze near April 21 - plan the planting calendar around it, not the regional average.
- Energy bills track 6,106 heating and 854 cooling degree days a year, higher means the furnace or AC runs more.
- Comparing places to live? Line this city up against nearby cities and the national rankings. See rankings
These are 30-year NOAA normals (1991–2020) - the typical year, not a forecast for any specific season.
Climate Guides
Climate Insight: Detroit City, MI
Detroit City, Michigan runs an annual average of 51°F, ranging from a mean daily high of 59°F to a mean daily low of 42°F, per NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals. July is typically the warmest month of the year, while January is the coldest. Drawn from station USW00014822, these thirty-year averages smooth out year-to-year swings into a baseline for what a typical month looks like here.
Precipitation patterns matter as much as temperature for anyone planning to live, garden, or travel here. Detroit City receives roughly 29.9 inches of precipitation each year, predominantly as rainfall. The frost-free season averages 193 days, which directly shapes the planting calendar and growing potential for the area, with the last spring freeze near April 21 and the first fall freeze near October 31. For energy use, 6,106 heating degree days and 854 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.
On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, Detroit City scores 68/100 (Good), a blended measure that weighs temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, and extreme-weather frequency against one another. The monthly tables above turn that into a planning tool: expect the mildest highs and lows in the shoulder seasons, July-driven heat at the peak of summer, and January-driven cold at the depth of winter. Every number here is a thirty-year average, not a forecast, so any given year can and does run warmer, cooler, wetter, or drier than the normal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average temperature in Detroit City, MI? ▼
The average annual temperature in Detroit City, Michigan is 51°F. The warmest month averages 84°F (29°C) and the coldest averages 20°F (-7°C).
How much rain does Detroit City get? ▼
Detroit City receives 29.9 inches of precipitation annually. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991-2020).
What is the comfort score for Detroit City? ▼
Detroit City has a climate comfort score of 68/100 (Good), milder than 58% of U.S. cities in the PlainClimate database.
When is the growing season in Detroit City? ▼
Detroit City has approximately 193 frost-free days per year, with the last spring freeze around April 21 and the first fall freeze around October 31.
How much energy does heating and cooling require in Detroit City? ▼
Detroit City has 6,106 heating degree days and 854 cooling degree days annually, a heating-dominated climate. See our <a href="/guides/reading-weather-data/" class="underline hover:text-brand-600">guide to reading weather data</a> for what these figures mean.
Where does this Detroit City climate data come from? ▼
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020), from weather station USW00014822 near Detroit City.
Data Sources
Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). Station: USW00014822. For informational purposes only.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainClimate Editorial
Every figure on PlainClimate is rendered directly from NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.