Weather & Climate in Grand Marais, MN
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Grand Marais has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 40°F (4°C). Winters average 15°F in January while summers reach 60°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 25.9 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 50.9 inches of snow annually, making winter weather a significant factor for residents. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 16 / among the cleanest air in the country. 92% of days have good air quality. The city sits at an elevation of 873 feet.
Temperature
15°F Jan (-9°C)
60°F Jul (16°C)
| Annual Average | 39.5°F |
| 27% below US avg | |
| January Average | 15°F (-9°C) |
| July Average | 60°F (16°C) |
Geography
| Elevation | 873 ft (266 m) |
| Area | 2.9 sq mi (7.5 km²) |
| Population Density | 584/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 47.7586°N, 90.3443°W |
| Timezone | America/Chicago |
| County | Cook County County |
| Nearest Airport | Duluth International (DLH) 107 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 16.0 |
| Rating | Good |
| Good Days % | 92.2% |
| Unhealthy Days | 3 |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 11.2 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 63.5 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 98.1 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Hurricane | No Rating |
| Earthquake | No Rating |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low |
| Flood | Very Low |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Very 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: M2.7.
| Mar 19, 2018 | 75 km ESE of Atikokan, Canada | M2.7 | 93 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
5 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Oct 10, 2021 | EF2 | 32 km | 4.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 6, 2017 | EF1 | 71 km | 0.9 mi | 0 |
| Jun 12, 2024 | EF0 | 70 km | 4.2 mi | 0 |
| Sep 16, 1992 | EF0 | 5 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 9, 1991 | EF0 | 11 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950-2024, US only).
Wildfire History
18 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: PAGAMI CREEK (85,116 acres, 2011).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2011 | PAGAMI CREEK | 85,116 | 72 km |
| 2007 | HAM LAKE | 70,606 | 54 km |
| 2021 | GREENWOOD | 28,255 | 93 km |
| 2006 | CAVITY LAKE | 26,812 | 60 km |
| 1995 | SAG CORRIDOR | 13,842 | 61 km |
| 1996 | SOUTH TEMPERANCE | 4,192 | 33 km |
| 2006 | FAMINE LAKE | 4,012 | 41 km |
| 1995 | LITTLE GABBRO | 3,145 | 93 km |
| 2010 | KEK SPIDER 302 | 3,039 | 72 km |
| 2006 | TURTLE LAKE | 2,167 | 89 km |
| 2006 | REDEYE | 1,613 | 30 km |
| 2021 | JOHN EK | 1,421 | 57 km |
| 1995 | WINCHELL | 1,226 | 33 km |
| 2005 | ALPINE LAKE | 1,169 | 62 km |
| 2010 | MEEDS LAKE | 1,144 | 35 km |
| 2004 | SUPERIOR RX BURN 2 | 1,128 | 88 km |
| 1995 | SWEDE | 1,048 | 24 km |
| 2002 | TUESDAY | 533 | 28 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15°F (-9°C) | 0.8 in | Coldest, Driest |
| February | 18°F (-8°C) | 0.9 in | |
| March | 27°F (-3°C) | 1.2 in | |
| April | 37°F (3°C) | 2.2 in | |
| May | 47°F (8°C) | 2.5 in | |
| June | 53°F (12°C) | 3.7 in | Wettest |
| July | 60°F (16°C) | 3.1 in | |
| August | 62°F (17°C) | 2.4 in | Warmest |
| September | 56°F (13°C) | 2.7 in | |
| October | 45°F (7°C) | 3.0 in | |
| November | 33°F (0°C) | 1.9 in | |
| December | 22°F (-6°C) | 1.5 in |
Grand Marais has a seasonal temperature swing of 47°F / from 15°F in January to 62°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 25.9 inches, with June being the wettest month (3.7") and January the driest (0.8").