Climate Comfort Score
59/100
Moderate
NOAA 1991–2020 normals 49°F annual avg Public-domain federal data
East Lansing, MI Climate
Explore average temperature, rainfall, and comfort score sourced from NOAA NCEI's 1991–2020 climate normals →
- 49°F
- Avg annual temp
- 59/100
- Comfort score
- 34.3"
- Annual precip
- 172d
- Growing season
30-year climate normals from 1 weather station (1991-2020).
The climate verdict for East Lansing
East Lansing, Michigan averages 49°F a year and scores 59/100 on the comfort index - moderate, milder than 39% of U.S. cities.
- 49°F
- annual average temperature (NOAA normal)
- 59/100
- comfort score, milder than 39% of U.S. cities
- 34.3"
- annual precipitation · 36" snow
- 172 days
- growing season, frost-free days
Based on NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020) - 30-year averages describing the typical year, not a forecast.
Avg Temperature
49°F (10°C)
Avg High
59°F
Avg Low
40°F
Annual Precip
34.3"
Annual Snow
36.0"
Comfort Score
59/100
Moderate
Avg Annual Temperature
49°F
30-year mean (NOAA NCEI)
Annual Precipitation
34.3"
Plus 36.0" of snow
Comfort score vs national 100-point ceiling (East Lansing) 59.0%
National median (63)
PlainClimate composite, temperature mildness, humidity, precipitation, extreme-weather frequency. Moderate for the East Lansing area.
How East Lansing compares to every U.S. city
East Lansing's comfort score vs. all U.S. cities
PlainClimate composite comfort index (1–100), NOAA 1991–2020 normals
59 Top 61% higher than 39% 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 East Lansing
MethodologyThe chart below traces how the U.S. land temperature anomaly has moved against the global mean since 1900. For East Lansing, the NOAA 1991-2020 normal captures average conditions across that spread - notably, the most recent decade runs warmer than the 30-year mean itself.
- 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 | Snow | Freeze Days | 90°F+ Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32°F (0°C) | 18°F (-8°C) | 25°F (-4°C) | 2.1" | 14.1" | 28.6 | 0.0 |
| February | 34°F (1°C) | 19°F (-7°C) | 27°F (-3°C) | 1.6" | 7.3" | 26.2 | 0.0 |
| March | 45°F (7°C) | 27°F (-3°C) | 36°F (2°C) | 1.7" | 4.2" | 23.6 | 0.0 |
| April | 58°F (14°C) | 37°F (3°C) | 48°F (9°C) | 3.5" | 0.9" | 11.9 | 0.0 |
| May | 70°F (21°C) | 48°F (9°C) | 59°F (15°C) | 4.4" | 0.0" | 1.6 | 0.3 |
| June | 79°F (26°C) | 58°F (14°C) | 69°F (20°C) | 3.8" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 2.7 |
| July | 83°F (28°C) | 61°F (16°C) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.4" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 2.5 |
| August | 81°F (27°C) | 60°F (15°C) | 71°F (21°C) | 3.5" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 2.9 |
| September | 76°F (24°C) | 52°F (11°C) | 64°F (18°C) | 3.2" | 0.0" | 0.6 | 0.9 |
| October | 62°F (16°C) | 42°F (5°C) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.1" | 0.3" | 7.0 | 0.0 |
| November | 48°F (9°C) | 32°F (0°C) | 40°F (5°C) | 2.5" | 1.8" | 17.6 | 0.0 |
| December | 37°F (3°C) | 24°F (-5°C) | 30°F (-1°C) | 1.6" | 7.4" | 27.4 | 0.0 |
Monthly Precipitation
Average monthly rainfall and snowfall
January 2.1"
Snow: 14.1"
13.2 days with precipitation
February 1.6"
Snow: 7.3"
10.2 days with precipitation
March 1.7"
Snow: 4.2"
10.2 days with precipitation
April 3.5"
Snow: 0.9"
11.8 days with precipitation
May 4.4"
11.1 days with precipitation
June 3.8"
10.5 days with precipitation
July 3.4"
9.7 days with precipitation
August 3.5"
9.5 days with precipitation
September 3.2"
8.7 days with precipitation
October 3.1"
Snow: 0.3"
9.9 days with precipitation
November 2.5"
Snow: 1.8"
9.8 days with precipitation
December 1.6"
Snow: 7.4"
12.6 days with precipitation
Frost Dates & Growing Season
First Fall Freeze
October 17
50% probability date
Last Spring Freeze
April 28
50% probability date
Growing Season
172 days
Heating & Cooling Degree Days
Annual totals indicate energy demand for heating and cooling
Heating Degree Days
6,411
Higher = more heating needed
Cooling Degree Days
707
Higher = more cooling needed
Warmest Month
July
Coldest Month
January
What East Lansing's climate means for you
East Lansing runs 49°F a year - peaking in July, coldest in January.
- Gardeners get about 172 frost-free days, with the last spring freeze near April 28 - plan the planting calendar around it, not the regional average.
- Energy bills track 6,411 heating and 707 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: East Lansing, MI
Based on station USC00202395 feeding NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, East Lansing, Michigan averages 49°F a year, ranging from a mean daily high of 59°F to a mean daily low of 40°F. July is typically the warmest month of the year, while January is the coldest. Because these figures are thirty-year averages rather than any single year's readings, they describe the typical month, not a forecast for it.
East Lansing averages 34.3 inches of precipitation a year, with 36.0 inches typically falling as snow, and that matters as much to daily life here as temperature does. The frost-free season averages 172 days, which directly shapes the planting calendar and growing potential for the area, with the last spring freeze near April 28 and the first fall freeze near October 17. As for energy demand, 6,411 heating degree days and 707 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.
On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, East Lansing scores 59/100 (Moderate), a blended measure that weighs temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, and extreme-weather frequency against one another. Shoulder seasons bring the mildest highs and lows in the monthly tables above, summer brings July-driven heat, and winter brings January-driven cold - use that rhythm for planning. These figures are thirty-year averages rather than forecasts, so a specific year may still run warmer, cooler, wetter, or drier than what's shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average temperature in East Lansing, MI? ▼
The average annual temperature in East Lansing, Michigan is 49°F. The warmest month averages 83°F (28°C) and the coldest averages 18°F (-8°C).
How much rain does East Lansing get? ▼
East Lansing receives 34.3 inches of precipitation annually, including 36.0 inches of snow. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991-2020).
What is the comfort score for East Lansing? ▼
East Lansing has a climate comfort score of 59/100 (Moderate), milder than 39% of U.S. cities in the PlainClimate database.
When is the growing season in East Lansing? ▼
East Lansing has approximately 172 frost-free days per year, with the last spring freeze around April 28 and the first fall freeze around October 17.
How much energy does heating and cooling require in East Lansing? ▼
East Lansing has 6,411 heating degree days and 707 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 East Lansing climate data come from? ▼
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020), from weather station USC00202395 near East Lansing.
Data Sources
Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). Station: USC00202395. 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.