Pontiac in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Pontiac sees average daytime highs around 33°F and overnight lows near 20°F, with 6.6 in of precipitation over about 27 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the driest season of the year.
Across winter, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 33°F. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 14% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Pontiac's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Pontiac's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 33°F
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 20°F
- Precipitation
- 6.6 in
- 27 wet days
- Avg wind
- 9 mph
- Travel score
- 0.0
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Pontiac in Winter
Across winter, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 33°F.
A typical winter day in Pontiac reaches about 33°F and drops to 20°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is December, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Pontiac
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.
Pontiac 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° / 18° | 2.3 | 9.6 | 7 | 9.2 | 0.0 |
| Feb | 33° / 19° | 2.0 | 7.9 | 6.7 | 10.3 | 0.0 |
| Mar | 44° / 27° | 2.4 | 9.9 | 4.2 | 11.6 | 0.8 |
| Apr | 56° / 38° | 3.6 | 12.1 | 1.9 | 13.1 | 3.6 |
| May | 67° / 49° | 3.9 | 12.7 | 0.1 | 14.4 | 5.8 |
| Jun | 77° / 59° | 3.9 | 11.2 | 0 | 15.1 | 6.5 |
| Jul | 81° / 63° | 3.3 | 11.5 | 0 | 14.8 | 6.3 |
| Aug | 79° / 61° | 3.2 | 10.6 | 0 | 13.7 | 6.6 |
| Sep | 72° / 54° | 3.0 | 9.5 | 0 | 12.3 | 6.8 |
| Oct | 59° / 43° | 3.0 | 10 | 0.2 | 10.8 | 4.6 |
| Nov | 46° / 33° | 2.6 | 9.3 | 2.2 | 9.6 | 1.2 |
| Dec | 35° / 24° | 2.2 | 9.3 | 5.6 | 8.9 | 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
Pontiac gets around 6.6 in of rain and snow over 27 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 9 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 1.9 kWh/m².
Is winter a good time to visit Pontiac?
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 Pontiac.
What to pack for Pontiac in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Pontiac sees daytime highs around 33°F and nights near 20°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear. About 27 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Pontiac 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 21 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 Pontiac 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 Pontiac 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 | 5 | 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 | 5 | 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 Pontiac 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 Pontiac is worst in July — around 15 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.9× the cleanest month (October, 8 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) | 10 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
| Level | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 10 | Good |
| Feb | 12 | Good |
| Mar | 14 | Moderate |
| Apr | 13 | Moderate |
| May | 15 | Moderate |
| Jun | 15 | Moderate |
| Jul | 15 | Moderate |
| Aug | 15 | Moderate |
| Sep | 12 | Moderate |
| Oct | 8 | Good |
| Nov | 9 | Good |
| Dec | 9 | Good |
Where is Pontiac?
Pontiac sits at 42.6°N, 83.3°W, 922 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Auburn Hills, 4.3 mi away.
Topography around Pontiac
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Pontiac.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around Pontiac has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 194 ft around an average of 951 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 614 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 915 ft.
The land around Pontiac is covered by artificial surfaces (40%), trees (35%) and grassland (20%) within 2 miles, trees (59%) within 10 miles, and trees (38%) and cropland (29%) 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 Pontiac (42.6389°, -83.291°, elevation 922 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.