Detroit in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Detroit sees average daytime highs around 34°F and overnight lows near 23°F, with 7.1 in of precipitation over about 28 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs ease from about 40°F in early December to 36°F by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 14% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Detroit's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Detroit's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 34°F
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 23°F
- Precipitation
- 7.1 in
- 28 wet days
- Avg wind
- 10 mph
- Travel score
- 0.0
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Detroit in Winter
Over the season highs ease from about 40°F in early December to 36°F by late February.
A typical winter day in Detroit reaches about 34°F and drops to 23°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is December, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Detroit
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 0 days that feel above 90°F and 90 that feel at or below 32°F.
The story in winter is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.
Detroit weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°F) | Rainfall (inches) | Wet days | Snow days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31° / 20° | 2.5 | 10.2 | 5.9 | 9.3 | 0.0 |
| Feb | 33° / 21° | 2.1 | 8.3 | 5.4 | 10.3 | 0.0 |
| Mar | 43° / 29° | 2.6 | 9.6 | 3.8 | 11.6 | 0.6 |
| Apr | 55° / 41° | 3.6 | 12 | 1 | 13.1 | 3.4 |
| May | 67° / 52° | 3.5 | 12.8 | 0 | 14.4 | 5.7 |
| Jun | 77° / 63° | 3.4 | 10.9 | 0 | 15 | 6.6 |
| Jul | 81° / 67° | 3.1 | 10.7 | 0 | 14.8 | 6.4 |
| Aug | 79° / 65° | 3.0 | 9.6 | 0 | 13.7 | 6.8 |
| Sep | 72° / 58° | 2.7 | 8.3 | 0 | 12.3 | 7.0 |
| Oct | 60° / 46° | 2.7 | 8.9 | 0 | 10.8 | 4.8 |
| Nov | 47° / 36° | 2.7 | 9 | 1.5 | 9.6 | 1.5 |
| Dec | 36° / 27° | 2.5 | 9.1 | 4.1 | 9 | 0.0 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 14% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Detroit gets around 7.1 in of rain and snow over 28 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 10 mph across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 9 h 06 min in early December to 10 h 54 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 2.1 kWh/m².
Is winter a good time to visit Detroit?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Detroit.
What to pack for Detroit in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Detroit sees daytime highs around 34°F and nights near 23°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear. About 28 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Detroit in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 35°F across winter — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 9 mi away) is warmest in August at about 73°F and coldest in February near 33°F.
It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 2 to Sep 15 — about 2.5 months when the water holds above 68°F.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°F) | 34 | 33 | 34 | 41 | 52 | 64 | 72 | 73 | 68 | 57 | 47 | 39 |
| Comfort | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Cool | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing |
| Sea temperature (°F) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34 | Bracing |
| Feb | 33 | Bracing |
| Mar | 34 | Bracing |
| Apr | 41 | Bracing |
| May | 52 | Bracing |
| Jun | 64 | Cool |
| Jul | 72 | Refreshing |
| Aug | 73 | Refreshing |
| Sep | 68 | Refreshing |
| Oct | 57 | Bracing |
| Nov | 47 | Bracing |
| Dec | 39 | Bracing |
UV index in Detroit in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 2. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Detroit peaks around June 20 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 1 (low).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Level | Low | Moderate | Moderate | High | High | Very high | Very high | High | High | Moderate | Moderate | Low |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2 | Low |
| Feb | 2 | Moderate |
| Mar | 4 | Moderate |
| Apr | 6 | High |
| May | 7 | High |
| Jun | 9 | Very high |
| Jul | 8 | Very high |
| Aug | 7 | High |
| Sep | 6 | High |
| Oct | 3 | Moderate |
| Nov | 2 | Moderate |
| Dec | 1 | Low |
Air quality in Detroit in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Detroit is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.9× the cleanest month (October, 9 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 10 |
| Level | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11 | Good |
| Feb | 13 | Moderate |
| Mar | 14 | Moderate |
| Apr | 14 | Moderate |
| May | 15 | Moderate |
| Jun | 16 | Moderate |
| Jul | 16 | Moderate |
| Aug | 15 | Moderate |
| Sep | 12 | Moderate |
| Oct | 9 | Good |
| Nov | 9 | Good |
| Dec | 10 | Good |
Where is Detroit?
Detroit sits at 42.3°N, 83.0°W, 600 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Windsor, 2.5 mi away.
Topography around Detroit
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Detroit.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around Detroit has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 187 ft around an average of 604 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 200 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 915 ft.
The land around Detroit is covered by artificial surfaces (64%) within 2 miles, artificial surfaces (44%) and trees (24%) within 10 miles, and trees (28%), water (27%) and cropland (26%) within 50 miles.
United States travel facts
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 100% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $90,027
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.8 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 98%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 5.8
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 12.7
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Detroit (42.3314°, -83.0457°, elevation 600 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.