Traverse City in Spring
In spring (March, April and May), Traverse City sees average daytime highs around 50°F and overnight lows near 34°F, with 8.5 in of precipitation over about 31 wet days across the season. It is the 3rd-warmest season and the 3rd-wettest season.
Over the season highs climb from about 32°F in early March to 66°F by late May. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 27% of the time across spring, and the air most often feels dry.
Spring is Traverse City's 3rd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Traverse City's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 50°F
- 3rd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 34°F
- Precipitation
- 8.5 in
- 31 wet days
- Avg wind
- 8 mph
- Travel score
- 2.5
- 3rd-best season
- Months
- Mar · Apr · May
Temperature in Traverse City in Spring
Over the season highs climb from about 32°F in early March to 66°F by late May.
A typical spring day in Traverse City reaches about 50°F and drops to 34°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is May, the coolest March.
How spring really feels in Traverse City
Once humidity and wind are folded in, spring brings about 0 days that feel above 90°F and 56 that feel at or below 32°F.
The story in spring is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.
Traverse City weather by month
How the three spring months (March, April and May) 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 | 28° / 17° | 2.1 | 11.8 | 13.9 | 9 | 0.0 |
| Feb | 28° / 16° | 1.6 | 8.5 | 8.8 | 10.1 | 0.0 |
| Mar | 38° / 23° | 2.1 | 8.7 | 6.2 | 11.6 | 0.1 |
| Apr | 50° / 34° | 3.2 | 11 | 3.5 | 13.2 | 2.3 |
| May | 62° / 45° | 3.2 | 10.9 | 0.2 | 14.6 | 5.1 |
| Jun | 71° / 55° | 3.1 | 10 | 0 | 15.3 | 6.6 |
| Jul | 76° / 61° | 3.3 | 11 | 0 | 15 | 6.9 |
| Aug | 75° / 60° | 3.3 | 10.6 | 0 | 13.9 | 7.0 |
| Sep | 69° / 53° | 3.2 | 11.6 | 0 | 12.3 | 6.1 |
| Oct | 56° / 43° | 3.7 | 14 | 0.4 | 10.7 | 3.4 |
| Nov | 43° / 34° | 2.8 | 13.3 | 6.6 | 9.4 | 0.6 |
| Dec | 34° / 26° | 2.4 | 13.3 | 13.3 | 8.7 | 0.0 |
Cloud cover in Spring
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 27% of the time across spring.
Chance of precipitation in Spring
Traverse City gets around 8.5 in of rain and snow over 31 wet days across spring. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Spring
Most of spring feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Spring
Winds average 8 mph across spring.
Sunrise & sunset in Spring
Daylight runs from about 10 h 48 min in early March to 15 h 06 min by late May. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Spring
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across spring, about 5.1 kWh/m².
Is spring a good time to visit Traverse City?
Our two travel scores rate spring for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
spring is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Traverse City.
What to pack for Traverse City in Spring
From spring's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In spring, Traverse City sees daytime highs around 50°F and nights near 34°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear and sun protection. About 31 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Traverse City in Spring
The nearest coast averages about 37°F across spring — 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.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°F) | 38 | 36 | 35 | 37 | 40 | 50 | 64 | 68 | 65 | 56 | 48 | 42 |
| Comfort | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Cool | Refreshing | Cool | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing |
| Sea temperature (°F) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38 | Bracing |
| Feb | 36 | Bracing |
| Mar | 35 | Bracing |
| Apr | 37 | Bracing |
| May | 40 | Bracing |
| Jun | 50 | Bracing |
| Jul | 64 | Cool |
| Aug | 68 | Refreshing |
| Sep | 65 | Cool |
| Oct | 56 | Bracing |
| Nov | 48 | Bracing |
| Dec | 42 | Bracing |
UV index in Traverse City in Spring
Clear-sky midday UV across spring averages around 5 — enough to warrant sun protection. 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.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Level | Low | Low | Moderate | Moderate | Very high | Very high | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate | Low | Low |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1 | Low |
| Feb | 2 | Low |
| Mar | 4 | Moderate |
| Apr | 5 | Moderate |
| May | 7 | Very high |
| Jun | 9 | Very high |
| Jul | 8 | Very high |
| Aug | 7 | High |
| Sep | 5 | Moderate |
| Oct | 3 | Moderate |
| Nov | 2 | Low |
| Dec | 1 | Low |
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.
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 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.