Traverse City weather in February

In February, Traverse City sees average daytime highs of 28°F and overnight lows near 16°F, with 1.6 in of precipitation across 8.5 wet days and about 10.1 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 12th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 27°F in the first days to 31°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 13% of the time in February, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 30 min at the start of February to 10 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, February is Traverse City's 9th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Traverse City's year-round climate.

Daytime high
28°
11th warmest
Overnight low
16°
1st coldest
Precipitation
1.6 in
8.5 wet days
Daylight
10 h 06 min
7:53 AM – 6:01 PM
Cloud cover
76%
9th clearest
Wind
9 mph
5th windiest
Solar energy
2.72 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Traverse City is city in and seat of Grand Traverse County, Michigan, United States.

Density
679/km²
people per km²
Founded
1891

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in February

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs climb over the month, from about 27°F in the first days to 31°F by the end.

A typical February day in Traverse City reaches about 28°F in the afternoon and slips back to 16°F overnight — a 13°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 15°F and 40°F. Set against its neighbours, February runs on par with January and about 9°F cooler than March.

20°40°151015202528
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
12615
22715
32715
42715
52715
62715
72715
82715
92715
102715
112815
122815
132815
142815
152815
162916
172916
182916
192916
202916
213017
223017
233017
243017
253117
263117
273117
283118

How February really feels in Traverse City

Once humidity and wind are folded in, February averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 28 that feel at or below 32°F — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 90°F
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
28
28 feel bitter (≤ 14°F)

The story in February is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.

Traverse City weather by month

How February compares with the rest of the year at a glance. February is the 11th-warmest and 12th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan28° / 17°2.111.813.990.0
Feb28° / 16°1.68.58.810.10.0
Mar38° / 23°2.18.76.211.60.1
Apr50° / 34°3.2113.513.22.3
May62° / 45°3.210.90.214.65.1
Jun71° / 55°3.110015.36.6
Jul76° / 61°3.3110156.9
Aug75° / 60°3.310.6013.97.0
Sep69° / 53°3.211.6012.36.1
Oct56° / 43°3.7140.410.73.4
Nov43° / 34°2.813.36.69.40.6
Dec34° / 26°2.413.313.38.70.0

Cloud cover in February

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 13% of the time in February.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 9% of February, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 77%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202528
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
11882
21882
31882
41981
52080
62080
72179
82179
92179
102377
112377
122377
132377
142377
152377
162377
172377
182377
192377
202476
212476
222476
232476
242575
252674
262674
272674
282872

Chance of precipitation in February

Any precipitationSnow

Traverse City gets around 1.6 in of rain and snow over 8.5 wet days in February, the driest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 31% and peaks near 32% on the wettest days, and about 9 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202528
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
13237
23136
33136
43035
53035
63034
73034
83033
93033
103033
113032
123032
133032
143031
153031
163031
173131
183131
193131
203130
213130
223130
233129
243129
253129
263129
273129
283129

Humidity in February

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of February feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, February lands in the dry band about 100% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202528
Dry (%)
1100
2100
3100
4100
5100
6100
7100
8100
9100
10100
11100
12100
13100
14100
15100
16100
17100
18100
19100
20100
21100
22100
23100
24100
25100
26100
27100
28100

Wind in February

Winds average 9 mph in February.

Across February, daily wind ranges from about 9 mph on the calmest days to 9 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202528
Wind speed (mph)Feels
19light breeze
29light breeze
39light breeze
49light breeze
59light breeze
69light breeze
79light breeze
89light breeze
99light breeze
109light breeze
119light breeze
129light breeze
139light breeze
149light breeze
159light breeze
169light breeze
179light breeze
189light breeze
199light breeze
209light breeze
219light breeze
229light breeze
239light breeze
249light breeze
259light breeze
269light breeze
279light breeze
289light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in February

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 30 min at the start of February to 10 h 48 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 78 minutes over February. Sunrise moves from 8:10 AM to 7:33 AM, and sunset from 5:42 PM to 6:19 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202528
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.58:105:42
29.68:095:43
39.68:085:44
49.68:075:46
59.78:065:47
69.78:055:48
79.88:045:50
89.88:025:51
99.98:015:53
109.98:005:54
119.97:595:56
1210.07:575:57
1310.07:565:58
1410.17:546:00
1510.17:536:01
1610.27:526:03
1710.27:506:04
1810.37:496:05
1910.37:476:07
2010.47:466:08
2110.47:446:10
2210.57:426:11
2310.57:416:12
2410.67:396:14
2510.67:386:15
2610.77:366:16
2710.77:346:18
2810.87:336:19

Solar energy in February

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in February, about 2.72 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.13 kWh/m² to a high of 6.49 kWh/m² in June across the year — February's 2.72 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

01234151015202528
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.1Moderate
22.2Moderate
32.2Moderate
42.3Moderate
52.3Moderate
62.4Moderate
72.4Moderate
82.4Moderate
92.5Moderate
102.5Moderate
112.6Moderate
122.6Moderate
132.7Moderate
142.7Moderate
152.8Moderate
162.8Moderate
172.8Moderate
182.9Moderate
192.9Moderate
203.0Moderate
213.0Moderate
223.0Moderate
233.1Moderate
243.1Moderate
253.2Moderate
263.3Moderate
273.3Moderate
283.4Moderate
Planning a trip in February

Is February a good time to visit Traverse City?

Our two travel scores rate February for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

0.0
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
8th-best month of the year

February is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Traverse City.

What to pack for Traverse City in February

From February's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In February, Traverse City sees daytime highs around 28°F and nights near 16°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear. About 9 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gear

Sea temperature near Traverse City in February

The nearest coast averages about 36°F in February — 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 68°F and coldest in March near 35°F.

The water stays below 68°F all year — cool enough that most swimmers want a wetsuit.

30°40°50°60°70°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarm
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan38Bracing
Feb36Bracing
Mar35Bracing
Apr37Bracing
May40Bracing
Jun50Bracing
Jul64Cool
Aug68Refreshing
Sep65Cool
Oct56Bracing
Nov48Bracing
Dec42Bracing

UV index in Traverse City in February

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in February peaks around 2. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Traverse City peaks around June 18 at about 9 (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.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJun 18UV 9Jan 1UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan1Low
Feb2Low
Mar4Moderate
Apr5Moderate
May7Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul8Very high
Aug7High
Sep5Moderate
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Low
Dec1Low
Location & terrain

Where is Traverse City?

Traverse City sits at 44.8°N, 85.6°W, 597 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Mackinac Island, 89 mi away.

Topography around Traverse City

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Traverse City.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Traverse City has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 404 ft around an average of 627 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 679 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,224 ft.

The land around Traverse City is covered by water (33%), trees (32%) and artificial surfaces (24%) within 2 miles, trees (48%), water (25%) and grassland (22%) within 10 miles, and trees (49%) and water (37%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
404 ft
10 miles
679 ft
50 miles
1,224 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
February weather nearby: Mackinac Island 89 mi · Mount Pleasant 91 mi · Midland 104 mi · Muskegon 110 mi · Manitowoc 111 mi · Norton Shores 115 mi · Bellevue 115 mi · Bay City 118 mi

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
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 2%

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 Traverse City (44.7631°, -85.6206°, elevation 597 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. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).