Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Ellsworth has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 43°F (6°C). Winters average 19°F in January while summers reach 67°F in July. The area gets 270 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 35.8 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 38. The city sits at an elevation of 615 feet.
Temperature
19°F Jan (-7°C)67°F Jul (19°C)
Annual Average
43.3°F
20% below US avg
January Average
19°F (-7°C)
July Average
67°F (19°C)
Sunny Days
270 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
615 ft (187 m)
Area
0.8 sq mi (2.1 km²)
Population Density
379/sq mi
Coordinates
45.1672°N, 85.2429°W
Timezone
America/Detroit
County
Antrim County County
Nearest Airport
Gaylord Regional (GLR) 28 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall35.8"
6% below US avg
Wettest Month (Sep)3.94"
Driest Month (Feb)1.42"
Air Quality
AQI Median
38.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Very Low
Risk Score
25.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability
26.2 / 100
Community Resilience
84.7 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Hurricane
Very Low
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Very Low
Heat Wave
Very Low
Winter Weather
Very Low
Lightning
Relatively Low
Ice Storm
Very Low
Drought
No Rating
Cold Wave
Relatively Moderate
Landslide
Relatively Low
Coastal Flood
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
1 earthquake (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M2.9.
Aug 2, 2024
38 km ESE of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
M2.9
144 km
11 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
83 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 3 fatalities, 69 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
May 20, 2022
EF3
36 km
17.5 mi
2
Jul 3, 1974
EF3
15 km
11.9 mi
0
Jun 26, 1969
EF3
57 km
6.4 mi
0
Oct 18, 2007
EF2
95 km
11.6 mi
0
Oct 18, 2007
EF2
55 km
4.5 mi
1
Jul 31, 1977
EF2
13 km
19.4 mi
0
Jul 23, 1976
EF2
66 km
3.3 mi
0
Apr 19, 1975
EF2
58 km
1.5 mi
0
Jun 10, 1974
EF2
87 km
0.3 mi
0
May 25, 1973
EF2
98 km
0.1 mi
0
Sep 3, 1964
EF2
94 km
0.1 mi
0
May 8, 1964
EF2
37 km
16.6 mi
0
Jul 31, 1963
EF2
97 km
19.6 mi
0
Sep 13, 1961
EF2
49 km
14.4 mi
0
Sep 1, 2014
EF1
64 km
7.2 mi
0
Sep 1, 2014
EF1
59 km
9.1 mi
0
Sep 1, 2014
EF1
44 km
4.0 mi
0
Jun 18, 2012
EF1
85 km
1.3 mi
0
Oct 18, 2007
EF1
70 km
10.2 mi
0
Aug 1, 2002
EF1
21 km
1.0 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
18 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: MERIDIAN BOUNDARY COMPLEX (MERIDIAN ROAD) (7,478 acres, 2010).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2010
MERIDIAN BOUNDARY COMPLEX (MERIDIAN ROAD)
7,478
93 km
1990
CRAWFORD15
6,868
77 km
1994
UNNAMED
4,059
63 km
2006
UNNAMED
4,020
65 km
2022
BLUE LAKES
2,554
71 km
2021
21-SLBE LASSO LOOP BURN
1,906
82 km
1995
UNNAMED
1,844
62 km
2024
RANGE 30 24-03 RX
1,523
71 km
1985
CRAWFORD45
1,412
64 km
2008
FOUR MILE
1,348
72 km
2006
UNNAMED
1,267
72 km
2010
MERIDIAN BOUNDARY COMPLEX (RANGE 9)
1,202
67 km
2011
HOWES LAKE
839
62 km
1990
CRAWFORD16
777
86 km
1996
HAGAMAN ROAD
658
95 km
2019
19-SLBE PETERSON
605
83 km
2006
UNNAMED
575
62 km
1987
KALKASKA17
520
67 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
19°F (-7°C)
2.1 in
Coldest
February
21°F (-6°C)
1.4 in
Driest
March
29°F (-2°C)
1.9 in
April
41°F (5°C)
2.4 in
May
53°F (12°C)
2.6 in
June
62°F (17°C)
2.8 in
July
67°F (19°C)
2.8 in
Warmest
August
66°F (19°C)
3.3 in
September
59°F (15°C)
3.9 in
Wettest
October
49°F (9°C)
3.1 in
November
37°F (3°C)
2.8 in
December
26°F (-3°C)
2.4 in
Ellsworth has a seasonal temperature swing of 48°F / from 19°F in January to 67°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 31.6 inches, with September being the wettest month (3.9") and February the driest (1.4").