Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Fife Lake has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 43°F (6°C). Winters average 18°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 35.3 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 38. The city sits at an elevation of 1,023 feet.
Temperature
18°F Jan (-8°C)67°F Jul (19°C)
Annual Average
43.0°F
20% below US avg
January Average
18°F (-8°C)
July Average
67°F (19°C)
Sunny Days
270 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
1,023 ft (312 m)
Area
1.2 sq mi (3.1 km²)
Population Density
492/sq mi
Coordinates
44.5758°N, 85.3478°W
Timezone
America/Detroit
County
Grand Traverse County County
Nearest Airport
Gaylord Regional (GLR) 44 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall35.3"
7% below US avg
Wettest Month (Sep)4.17"
Driest Month (Feb)1.30"
Air Quality
AQI Median
38.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
65.7 / 100
Social Vulnerability
16.3 / 100
Community Resilience
96.5 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Hurricane
Very Low
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave
Very Low
Winter Weather
Very High
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm
Very Low
Drought
No Rating
Cold Wave
Relatively High
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
126 km
11 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
124 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 5 fatalities, 129 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 3, 1956
EF4
76 km
50.3 mi
1
May 20, 2022
EF3
58 km
17.5 mi
2
Jul 3, 1974
EF3
59 km
11.9 mi
0
Jun 26, 1969
EF3
32 km
6.4 mi
0
Apr 23, 1968
EF3
98 km
60.9 mi
0
Oct 18, 2007
EF2
14 km
4.5 mi
1
Oct 18, 2007
EF2
83 km
11.6 mi
0
May 28, 1995
EF2
97 km
1.0 mi
0
Mar 27, 1991
EF2
63 km
4.0 mi
0
Mar 27, 1991
EF2
93 km
6.0 mi
0
Jun 8, 1985
EF2
69 km
24.0 mi
0
Jul 31, 1977
EF2
53 km
19.4 mi
0
Jul 23, 1976
EF2
8 km
3.3 mi
0
May 21, 1975
EF2
90 km
1.6 mi
0
Apr 19, 1975
EF2
51 km
1.5 mi
0
Jun 10, 1974
EF2
50 km
0.3 mi
0
Jun 9, 1974
EF2
98 km
1.5 mi
0
Jun 7, 1974
EF2
40 km
1.2 mi
0
May 25, 1973
EF2
54 km
0.1 mi
0
Sep 3, 1964
EF2
31 km
0.1 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 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
72 km
1990
CRAWFORD15
6,868
66 km
2006
HUGHES LAKE FIRE
5,285
86 km
1994
UNNAMED
4,059
68 km
2006
UNNAMED
4,020
68 km
2017
GRANT RX
2,204
98 km
2005
ROSCOMMON4
2,109
70 km
1987
OGEMAW22
1,952
92 km
2021
21-SLBE LASSO LOOP BURN
1,906
61 km
1995
UNNAMED
1,844
67 km
1988
OGEMAW13
1,547
88 km
2024
RANGE 30 24-03 RX
1,523
61 km
1985
CRAWFORD45
1,412
69 km
1998
OGEMAW16
1,391
83 km
2008
FOUR MILE
1,348
51 km
2006
UNNAMED
1,267
41 km
2010
MERIDIAN BOUNDARY COMPLEX (RANGE 9)
1,202
38 km
2012
LITTLE MACK LAKE
875
100 km
1995
OGEMAW10
856
83 km
2011
HOWES LAKE
839
45 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
18°F (-8°C)
1.8 in
Coldest
February
20°F (-7°C)
1.3 in
Driest
March
29°F (-2°C)
1.7 in
April
42°F (5°C)
2.5 in
May
54°F (12°C)
2.5 in
June
63°F (17°C)
3.1 in
July
67°F (19°C)
2.7 in
Warmest
August
66°F (19°C)
3.2 in
September
59°F (15°C)
4.2 in
Wettest
October
48°F (9°C)
3.0 in
November
36°F (2°C)
2.7 in
December
25°F (-4°C)
2.1 in
Fife Lake has a seasonal temperature swing of 49°F / from 18°F in January to 67°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 30.8 inches, with September being the wettest month (4.2") and February the driest (1.3").