Climate
Main article: Climate of MichiganMichigan has a humid continental climate, although there are two distinct regions. The southern and central parts of the Lower Peninsula (south of Saginaw Bay and from the Grand Rapids area southward) have a warmer climate (Köppen climate classification Dfa) with hot summers and cold winters. The northern part of Lower Peninsula and the entire Upper Peninsula has a more severe climate (Köppen Dfb), with warm, but shorter summers and longer, cold to very cold winters. Some parts of the state average high temperatures below freezing from December through February, and into early March in the far northern parts. During the winter through the middle of February the state is frequently subjected to heavy lake-effect snow. The state averages from 30-40 inches (75–100 cm) of precipitation annually.
The entire state averages 30 days of thunderstorm activity per year. These can be severe, especially in the southern part of the state. The state averages 17 tornadoes per year, which are more common in the extreme southern portion of the state. Portions of the southern border have been nearly as vulnerable historically as parts of Tornado Alley. Farther north, in the Upper Peninsula, tornadoes are rare.
| Monthly Normal High and Low Temperatures For Various Michigan Cities in °F(°C) | ||||||||||||
| City | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | 31/18
(-1/-8) |
34/20
(1/-7) |
45/28
(7/-2) |
58/38
(14/3) |
70/49
(21/9) |
79/59
(26/15) |
83/64
(28/18) |
81/62
(27/17) |
74/54
(23/12) |
61/42
(16/6) |
48/34
(9/1) |
36/23
(2/-5) |
| Flint | 29/13
(-2/-11) |
32/15
(0/-9) |
43/24
(6/-4) |
56/35
(13/2) |
69/45
(21/7) |
78/55
(26/13) |
82/59
(28/15) |
80/57
(27/14) |
72/49
(22/9) |
60/39
(16/4) |
46/30
(8/-1) |
34/19
(1/-7) |
| Grand Rapids | 29/16
(-2/-9) |
33/17
(1/-8) |
43/26
(6/-3) |
57/36
(14/2) |
70/47
(21/8) |
78/56
(26/13) |
82/60
(28/16) |
80/59
(27/15) |
72/51
(22/11) |
60/40
(11/4) |
46/31
(8/-1) |
34/21
(1/-6) |
| Lansing | 29/14
(-2/-10) |
33/15
(1/-9) |
44/24
(7/-4) |
57/34
(14/1) |
69/45
(21/7) |
78/54
(26/12) |
82/58
(28/14) |
80/57
(27/14) |
72/49
(22/9) |
60/39
(16/4) |
46/30
(8/-1) |
34/20
(1/-7) |
| Marquette | 20/3
(-7/-16) |
24/5
(-4/-15) |
33/14
(1/-10) |
46/27
(8/-3) |
62/39
(17/4) |
70/48
(21/9) |
75/54
(24/12) |
73/52
(23/11) |
63/44
(17/7) |
51/34
(11/1) |
35/22
(2/-6) |
24/10
(-4/-12) |
| Muskegon | 30/17
(-1/-8) |
32/18
(0/-8) |
42/25
(6/-4) |
55/35
(13/2) |
67/45
(19/7) |
76/54
(24/12) |
80/60
(27/16) |
78/59
(26/15) |
70/51
(21/11) |
59/41
(15/5) |
46/32
(8/0) |
35/23
(2/-5) |
| Sault Ste Marie | 22/5
(-6/-15) |
24/7
(-4/-14) |
34/16
(1/-9) |
48/29
(9/-2) |
63/39
(17/4) |
71/46
(22/7) |
76/52
(24/11) |
74/52
(23/11) |
65/45
(18/7) |
53/36
(12/2) |
39/26
(12/-3) |
27/13
(-3/-11) |
Read more about this topic: Geography Of Michigan
Famous quotes containing the word climate:
“The climate has been described as “ten months winter and two months mighty late in the fall.””
—Administration in the State of Colo, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“If often he was wrong and at times absurd,
To us he is no more a person
Now but a whole climate of opinion.”
—W.H. (Wystan Hugh)
“When we consider how much climate contributes to the happiness of our condition, by the fine sensation it excites, and the productions it is the parent of, we have reason to value highly the accident of birth in such a one as that of Virginia.”
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)