Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Suttons Bay experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 47°F (8°C). Winters average 23°F in January while summers reach 70°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 31.2 inches. The area receives 114.5 inches of snow annually, making winter weather a significant factor for residents. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 38. The city sits at an elevation of 630 feet.
Temperature
23°F Jan (-5°C)70°F Jul (21°C)
Annual Average
46.6°F
14% below US avg
January Average
23°F (-5°C)
July Average
70°F (21°C)
Sunny Days
270 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
630 ft (192 m)
Area
1.3 sq mi (3.2 km²)
Population Density
459/sq mi
Coordinates
44.9796°N, 85.6507°W
Timezone
America/Detroit
County
Grand Traverse County County
Nearest Airport
Gaylord Regional (GLR) 46 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall31.2"
18% below US avg
Snowfall114.5"
Wettest Month (Sep)3.94"
Driest Month (Feb)1.42"
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
107 km
11 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
77 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 4 fatalities, 93 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 3, 1956
EF4
82 km
50.3 mi
1
May 20, 2022
EF3
61 km
17.5 mi
2
Jul 3, 1974
EF3
45 km
11.9 mi
0
Jun 26, 1969
EF3
26 km
6.4 mi
0
Oct 18, 2007
EF2
48 km
4.5 mi
1
Jul 31, 1977
EF2
31 km
19.4 mi
0
Jul 23, 1976
EF2
56 km
3.3 mi
0
Apr 19, 1975
EF2
73 km
1.5 mi
0
Jun 10, 1974
EF2
92 km
0.3 mi
0
Jun 7, 1974
EF2
85 km
1.2 mi
0
May 25, 1973
EF2
100 km
0.1 mi
0
Sep 3, 1964
EF2
82 km
0.1 mi
0
May 8, 1964
EF2
13 km
16.6 mi
0
Jul 31, 1963
EF2
78 km
19.6 mi
0
Sep 13, 1961
EF2
26 km
14.4 mi
0
Sep 1, 2014
EF1
74 km
9.1 mi
0
Sep 1, 2014
EF1
90 km
7.2 mi
0
Sep 1, 2014
EF1
53 km
4.0 mi
0
Jun 18, 2012
EF1
98 km
1.3 mi
0
Aug 1, 2002
EF1
99 km
6.5 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
17 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: CRAWFORD15 (6,868 acres, 1990).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
1990
CRAWFORD15
6,868
94 km
1994
UNNAMED
4,059
86 km
2006
UNNAMED
4,020
87 km
2021
21-SLBE LASSO LOOP BURN
1,906
44 km
1995
UNNAMED
1,844
84 km
2024
RANGE 30 24-03 RX
1,523
88 km
1985
CRAWFORD45
1,412
87 km
2008
FOUR MILE
1,348
83 km
2006
UNNAMED
1,267
78 km
2010
MERIDIAN BOUNDARY COMPLEX (RANGE 9)
1,202
73 km
2011
HOWES LAKE
839
73 km
2003
WARFIELD ROAD
800
84 km
1990
CRAWFORD16
777
97 km
2019
19-SLBE PETERSON
605
45 km
2006
UNNAMED
575
85 km
2021
WARFIELD
538
84 km
1987
KALKASKA17
520
70 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
23°F (-5°C)
2.0 in
February
22°F (-5°C)
1.4 in
Coldest, Driest
March
30°F (-1°C)
1.7 in
April
41°F (5°C)
2.4 in
May
53°F (12°C)
2.5 in
June
62°F (17°C)
3.0 in
July
70°F (21°C)
2.6 in
Warmest
August
67°F (20°C)
3.0 in
September
60°F (16°C)
3.9 in
Wettest
October
50°F (10°C)
2.8 in
November
38°F (4°C)
2.6 in
December
28°F (-2°C)
2.2 in
Suttons Bay has a seasonal temperature swing of 48°F / from 22°F in February to 70°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 30.2 inches, with September being the wettest month (3.9") and February the driest (1.4").