Mackinac Island in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Mackinac Island sees average daytime highs around 27°F and overnight lows near 17°F, with 5.7 in of precipitation over about 29 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 35°F in early December to 26°F by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 11% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Mackinac Island's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Mackinac Island's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 27°F
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 17°F
- Precipitation
- 5.7 in
- 29 wet days
- Avg wind
- 11 mph
- Travel score
- 0.0
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Mackinac Island in Winter
Over the season highs ease from about 35°F in early December to 26°F by late February.
A typical winter day in Mackinac Island reaches about 27°F and drops to 17°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is December, the coolest February.
How winter really feels in Mackinac Island
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.
Mackinac Island 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 | 24° / 14° | 1.9 | 9.9 | 10.9 | 8.9 | 0.0 |
| Feb | 24° / 13° | 1.6 | 7.4 | 7.3 | 10.1 | 0.0 |
| Mar | 33° / 21° | 2.0 | 8.4 | 6.1 | 11.6 | 0.0 |
| Apr | 44° / 32° | 2.9 | 9.7 | 3.2 | 13.3 | 0.9 |
| May | 56° / 43° | 2.9 | 10.2 | 0.3 | 14.7 | 3.7 |
| Jun | 68° / 55° | 3.0 | 10 | 0 | 15.5 | 6.3 |
| Jul | 74° / 62° | 3.3 | 10.9 | 0 | 15.2 | 6.9 |
| Aug | 73° / 62° | 3.4 | 10 | 0 | 13.9 | 6.9 |
| Sep | 66° / 55° | 3.5 | 11.4 | 0 | 12.3 | 5.9 |
| Oct | 54° / 44° | 3.7 | 13.5 | 0.2 | 10.7 | 3.0 |
| Nov | 42° / 34° | 2.6 | 11.6 | 5.7 | 9.3 | 0.5 |
| Dec | 32° / 24° | 2.3 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 8.5 | 0.0 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 11% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Mackinac Island gets around 5.7 in of rain and snow over 29 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 11 mph across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 8 h 42 min in early December to 10 h 42 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 1.8 kWh/m².
Is winter a good time to visit Mackinac Island?
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 Mackinac Island.
What to pack for Mackinac Island in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Mackinac Island sees daytime highs around 27°F and nights near 17°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear. About 29 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Mackinac Island in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 36°F across winter — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea offshore is warmest in August at about 66°F and coldest in February near 34°F.
The water stays below 68°F all year — cool enough that most swimmers want a wetsuit.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°F) | 35 | 34 | 34 | 36 | 41 | 52 | 62 | 66 | 61 | 53 | 44 | 38 |
| Comfort | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Cool | Cool | Cool | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing |
| Sea temperature (°F) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35 | Bracing |
| Feb | 34 | Bracing |
| Mar | 34 | Bracing |
| Apr | 36 | Bracing |
| May | 41 | Bracing |
| Jun | 52 | Bracing |
| Jul | 62 | Cool |
| Aug | 66 | Cool |
| Sep | 61 | Cool |
| Oct | 53 | Bracing |
| Nov | 44 | Bracing |
| Dec | 38 | Bracing |
UV index in Mackinac Island in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 1. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Mackinac Island peaks around June 19 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 1 at about 1 (low).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 7 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Level | Low | Low | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very high | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate | Low | Low |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1 | Low |
| Feb | 2 | Low |
| Mar | 3 | Moderate |
| Apr | 5 | Moderate |
| May | 7 | High |
| Jun | 8 | Very high |
| Jul | 8 | Very high |
| Aug | 7 | High |
| Sep | 5 | Moderate |
| Oct | 3 | Moderate |
| Nov | 2 | Low |
| Dec | 1 | Low |
Where is Mackinac Island?
Mackinac Island sits at 45.8°N, 84.6°W, 0 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Sault Ste. Marie, 47 mi away.
Topography around Mackinac Island
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Mackinac Island.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around Mackinac Island has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 351 ft around an average of 614 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 351 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,037 ft.
The land around Mackinac Island is covered by water (72%) and trees (24%) within 2 miles, water (75%) and trees (22%) within 10 miles, and trees (48%) and water (44%) 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 Mackinac Island (45.8492°, -84.6189°, elevation 0 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.