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Weather & Climate in Traverse City, MI
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Traverse City 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 276 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 29.1 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 38. The city sits at an elevation of 613 feet.
Temperature
23°F Jan (-5°C)
70°F Jul (21°C)
| Annual Average | 46.9°F |
| 13% below US avg | |
| January Average | 23°F (-5°C) |
| July Average | 70°F (21°C) |
| Sunny Days | 276 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 613 ft (187 m) |
| Area | 8.7 sq mi (22.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,871/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 44.7543°N, 85.6030°W |
| Timezone | America/Detroit |
| County | Grand Traverse County County |
| Nearest Airport | Gaylord Regional (GLR) 48 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
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 | 106 km | 11 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
92 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 | 67 km | 50.3 mi | 1 |
| May 20, 2022 | EF3 | 62 km | 17.5 mi | 2 |
| Jul 3, 1974 | EF3 | 54 km | 11.9 mi | 0 |
| Jun 26, 1969 | EF3 | 5 km | 6.4 mi | 0 |
| Oct 18, 2007 | EF2 | 31 km | 4.5 mi | 1 |
| Mar 27, 1991 | EF2 | 88 km | 4.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 8, 1985 | EF2 | 87 km | 24.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 31, 1977 | EF2 | 42 km | 19.4 mi | 0 |
| Jul 23, 1976 | EF2 | 35 km | 3.3 mi | 0 |
| Apr 19, 1975 | EF2 | 66 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Jun 10, 1974 | EF2 | 76 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1974 | EF2 | 59 km | 1.2 mi | 0 |
| May 25, 1973 | EF2 | 81 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Sep 3, 1964 | EF2 | 58 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| May 8, 1964 | EF2 | 17 km | 16.6 mi | 0 |
| Jul 31, 1963 | EF2 | 53 km | 19.6 mi | 0 |
| Sep 13, 1961 | EF2 | 8 km | 14.4 mi | 0 |
| Aug 28, 2018 | EF1 | 98 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 1, 2014 | EF1 | 88 km | 7.2 mi | 0 |
| Sep 1, 2014 | EF1 | 66 km | 9.1 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 | 95 km |
| 1990 | CRAWFORD15 | 6,868 | 85 km |
| 1994 | UNNAMED | 4,059 | 82 km |
| 2006 | UNNAMED | 4,020 | 82 km |
| 2017 | GRANT RX | 2,204 | 96 km |
| 2005 | ROSCOMMON4 | 2,109 | 98 km |
| 2021 | 21-SLBE LASSO LOOP BURN | 1,906 | 38 km |
| 1995 | UNNAMED | 1,844 | 80 km |
| 2024 | RANGE 30 24-03 RX | 1,523 | 79 km |
| 1985 | CRAWFORD45 | 1,412 | 83 km |
| 2008 | FOUR MILE | 1,348 | 71 km |
| 2006 | UNNAMED | 1,267 | 64 km |
| 2010 | MERIDIAN BOUNDARY COMPLEX (RANGE 9) | 1,202 | 59 km |
| 2011 | HOWES LAKE | 839 | 63 km |
| 2003 | WARFIELD ROAD | 800 | 61 km |
| 1990 | CRAWFORD16 | 777 | 83 km |
| 2019 | BALDWIN FUELS UNITS 1/2/6AB | 619 | 100 km |
| 2019 | 19-SLBE PETERSON | 605 | 38 km |
| 2006 | UNNAMED | 575 | 82 km |
| 2021 | WARFIELD | 538 | 61 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 (-6°C) | 1.4 in | Coldest, Driest |
| March | 30°F (-1°C) | 1.7 in | |
| April | 42°F (6°C) | 2.3 in | |
| May | 54°F (12°C) | 2.4 in | |
| June | 63°F (17°C) | 3.1 in | |
| July | 70°F (21°C) | 2.6 in | Warmest |
| August | 68°F (20°C) | 3.0 in | |
| September | 60°F (16°C) | 4.0 in | Wettest |
| October | 49°F (10°C) | 2.8 in | |
| November | 38°F (3°C) | 2.6 in | |
| December | 27°F (-3°C) | 2.2 in |
Traverse City has a seasonal temperature swing of 49°F / from 22°F in February to 70°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 30.2 inches, with September being the wettest month (4.0") and February the driest (1.4").