Detroit, Michigan Weather
Fireflies rise from the lawn. Day 76 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Detroit weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 3Overcast——83°50°—
- ThursdayJun 4Overcast——87°56°+4°
- FridayJun 5Drizzle43%—84°64°-3°
- SaturdayJun 6Light Showers65%0.01″80°66°-4°
- SundayJun 7Overcast19%—79°59°-1°
- MondayJun 8Overcast——82°59°+3°
- TuesdayJun 9Overcast——82°64°0°
Ozone at AQI 50 now. AQI up 11 over the last 6 hours (gradual rise). With UV 7.6 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 50 by mid-afternoon.
OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion during the projected peak around 10 PM.
What's driving it
Ozone × UV × Sky
Ozone at AQI 50 now. With UV 7.6 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 50 by mid-afternoon.
- Present
- AQI 50
- UV peak
- 7.6 at 1 PM
- Sky at peak
- clear
- Projected peak
- AQI 50
Trends
Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.
Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
The higher the clouds, the finer the weather.
- Moonrise
- 3:33 AM
- Moonset
- 12:20 PM
- In sign
- ♑︎ Capricorn
Fireflies rise from the lawn
Detroit at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 5°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: April 30 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: Jun 1–5
- Planting window: Harvest spring lettuce before it bolts. Sow heat-tolerant greens.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of June 3, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.
SPC Convective Outlook
Storm Prediction Center — Detroit
SPC has placed Detroit in the General Thunderstorms category for severe thunderstorms day after tomorrow.
- TODAYNONENo severe risk
- TOMORROWNONENo severe risk
- DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms possible. Not severe, but capable of producing lightning and brief heavy rain.
Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | — | — |
| April | — | — |
| May | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | — | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | — | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
July brings Detroit's warmest temperatures at around 74°F mean, while January delivers the coldest at around 26°F. May sees peak rainfall at 3.7 inches, with February marking the driest period at just 2.1 inches.
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26° | 2.1″ | 7 |
| February | 28° | 2.1″ | 7 |
| March | 37° | 2.5″ | 8 |
| April | 48° | 3.2″ | 11 |
| May | 59° | 3.7″ | 12 |
| June | 69° | 3.7″ | 12 |
| July | 74° | 3.4″ | 11 |
| August | 72° | 3.5″ | 12 |
| September | 65° | 3.0″ | 10 |
| October | 53° | 2.8″ | 9 |
| November | 41° | 2.6″ | 9 |
| December | 31° | 2.4″ | 8 |
Regional context
Detroit falls within a warm-summer humid continental climate region, sharing similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions with other cities in this climate zone.
Similar climates: Grand Rapids, MI, Lansing, MI, Ann Arbor, MI, Flint, MI, Kalamazoo, MI.
Naturalist notes
Red-winged blackbirds return to Detroit's wetlands in late March, with males arriving first to claim territory among the emerging cattails.
Sugar maples begin leafing out in early May when soil temperatures warm, their tiny green leaves unfurling just as the last frost threats pass.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Detroit?
- Spring's final frost in Detroit typically occurs around mid-May, while the first fall frost returns around mid-October.
- What is the rainy season in Detroit?
- May stands as the wettest month, delivering about 3.7 inches of rain on average, contributing to the city's annual total of roughly 35 inches.
- What is the warmest month in Detroit?
- July typically records the warmest temperatures, with averages around 74°F.
- What is the coldest month in Detroit?
- January typically brings the coldest weather, averaging about 26°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Detroit?
- Cool-season crops like peas and lettuce can be planted around the last spring frost in mid-May, while warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers should wait 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Detroit get?
- Detroit experiences about 116 rainy days per year on average.
- What hardiness zone is Detroit?
- Detroit's USDA hardiness zone depends on its lowest average winter temperature; the USDA's online lookup tool can provide the current zone designation using the city ZIP code.
Climate
Detroit, Michigan experiences a warm-summer humid continental climate zone. Winter brings January temperatures that hover near 26°F, while summer sees July averages of 74°F — creating a 48°F seasonal swing.
Annual precipitation totals about 35 inches across roughly 116 rainy days throughout the year.
Geography shapes Detroit's weather patterns through its latitude at 42.4°N, proximity to large water bodies, and elevation. These factors determine what grows in the region, when frost threatens, and the daily weather patterns residents experience.